montclair prep

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SoCalHoops High School News

Montclair Prep Announces Webb Out,
Abrams & Patterson Back In--(March 16, 1999)

The Daily News today finally announced what many people who follow Valley region basketball could probably have guessed would happen about mid-season: That Howard Abrams and Greg Patterson, who were unceremoniously ousted as the co-coaches of Montclair Prep would be back next season. The saga began last summer, when Patterson decided to take a year off, and Abrams, who had been a Montclair Prep basketball coach for more than 22 years was told by Vernon "Doc" Simpson, the owner of Montclair Prep, that his services would no longer be required as a coach. Initially, Abrams was given the job of assistant athletic director, but he declined.

Webb, a former UCLA basketball player under coach Wooden, and the former girls' coach at Montclair was given the head coaching job, and was instrumental in bringing the son of former teammate Marques Johnson, Josiah, to Montclair this past season along with several other transfers. But after a few months in the pre-season it was evident to observers that all was not well in Mountie-land. Here's what the Daily News said today:

"Parent's didn't like it. They told Simpson one reason they came to the school was so Abrams would be their coach. On parent heckled Webb mercilessly from behind the bench, causing him to skip a later game."

And actually the strory goes a bit beyond "merciless heckling." This one parent was so upset with Webb that he reportedly threatened the coach during a phone call, and when Webb hung up, the irate parent reportedly put his fax machine on autodial, calling Webb's number over and over again for more than 24 hours.

According to the Daily News story today, Simpson acknowledged he'd made a mistake:

"At any rate, I called Howard and Greg Patterson in . They said, 'What are you going to do?' I said, 'I'm thinking about changes for next year. Do you want to help?' They said they would be open to coming back next season.

"There's no real tactful way of doing it. Although Bobby's a good coach, we had an awful season. He was getting a lot of criticism. I feel this will be in the best interest (of the ) program. I feel I made a mistake in making the change."

Simpson also told the Daily News that Webb can have his job back as the girls coach if he would like it.

And while a majority of players and parents at the school say they are looking forward to the change and return of Abrams and Patterson, we don't think we've seen the last of the transfers at Montclair Prep, as several players have told SoCalHoops that their loyalities were with Webb. This group of players, certainly a minority, have said that they do no believe the change back to Abrams and Patterson was fair to Webb, and that as a result they may transfer.

Which just goes to show you that you can't please everyone all the time.