coaching changes

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SoCalHoops Coaching News

Coaching Changes: Hires, Fires, Retires,
Sabatticals & Openings--(April 17, 1999)

Here's a bunch of miscellaneous news on the local coaching front:

Servite High: Brian Kenney was hired as the new boys' basketball coach, Athletic Director Larry Walker said Friday. Kenney, 28, served as assistant coach the past two seasons at Servite under Scott Hamilton, who was fired last month. Kenney, who played basketball for and graduated from Servite in 1988, also played at Cypress College and Chapman. He has been a varsity assistant and junior varsity coach at Santa Margarita High in 1994 and was an assistant at Westmont College in 1995. Hamilton was fired three weeks ago for "philosophical differences" with the administration.

La Quinta High (Westminster): Boys basketball coach Craig "Cork" Snider has resigned to become an assistant coach with the Fullerton College men's basketball team, La Quinta athletic director Jim Perry said Wednesday. Snider coached La Quinta for four years.

Orange High: boys basketball coach Johnny Johnson has resigned for personal reasons, according to Athletic Director Dave Zirkle. Johnson coached the Panthers for two seasons, going 8-18 this year. He will continue to teach special education at Orange.

Pasadena Poly: This one actually happened back in March, but we missed it and wanted to at least get the word out as a sort of tribute to a guy who was one of the best coaches for the past 19 years. Saying the time was right and having contemplated a change for quite a while, Pasadena Poly boys basketball coach said he will take a sabbatical from the school beginning this fall. Hall, 44, has been the Panthers head coach for the past 19 years. His team advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division V-AA championship game earlier this month. "I've been thinking about this for a while," Hall told the Pasadena Star-News. He told his players after Poly lost in the state playoffs last month. "I just want to explore other things." Hall will be away from coaching and teaching from approximately September to February, or the first semester of the next academic year. He said he plans to return following the sabbatical, although he acknowledges that decision belongs to the school. "The assumption is that I will return to coach," Hall said. "I'll definitely return to Poly." Hall said what clouds any concrete answers at this point, is that it has not been determined who will take over the basketball program, and if that person also will assume Hall's duties as a physical education teacher. A final decision isn't expected any time soon. Although Hall is still working out his plans, he said Navy coach Don DeVoe and Penn's Fran Dunphy both have invited him to spend a week with their programs this fall. Hall also said he plans to spend time with his brother Jim, an athletic administrator at Georgia Tech. "I think sometimes you need a chance to step back, so you can move forward," Hall said. "I was fortunate the school could give me the opportunity."

Costa Mesa High: There's an opening available for the boys' varsity coaching job and a teaching position may also be available to the right candidate. Interested applicants for the boys basketball job may contact Boys Athletic Director Kirk Bauermeister (714) 424-8763. Applications can be picked up at the school's athletic office, near the southwest corner of the boys gym.

Orange Coast College: The OCC men's basketball team is also looking for a new head coach to replace Tim O'Brien, who resigned last week, opting to return to the high school level after a seven-year stint with the Pirates in a walk-on capacity. According to OCC Athletic Director Jane Hilgendorf, the deadline to apply for the walk-on position is May 7 at 5 p.m. Applications can be picked up at the OCC athletic division office at 2701 Fairview Road or at the Coast Community College District personal office, 1370 Adams Ave., in Costa Mesa. Candidates for the position should have at least two years of
head coaching experience at the high school varsity or collegiate level.

Desert Christian High: This one is from DesertBRat, who is quickly turning into one of the best sources for Inland Empire and Desert news: The local newspaper, The Palm Springs Desert Sun, reported Thursday that another high school basketball coach resigned, this time, Daniel Sullivan, the girls' coach at Desert Christian HS, a private high school in Bermuda Dunes (an unincorporated area between Palm Desert and Indio). Sullivan, cited conflicts with his teaching duties at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Indio and the lengthy road trips required in coaching the team. Since 1977, the Conquerors compiled a 27-20 overall record and 17-7 in Victory League play under Sullivan.