erich allen resigns

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SoCalHoops High School News

Costa Mesa Boys' Basketball Coach
Erich Allen Resigns--(April 14, 1999)

The LA Times is reporting that Erich Allen announced Tuesday that he resigned as Costa Mesa High's boys basketball coach, less than a week after giving assurances he would return for a fourth season at the Mustangs' helm. Allen, 27, said he stepped down to pursue a master's degree, as well as to put his family first. He and his wife Ana are expecting their first child in October. Allen was named by the Times as the "Daily Pilot Pacific Coast League Coach of the Year" (the Pilot is one of the Times' local papers) in 1997. Incredibly though, the LA Times also says that he "compiled an 11-62 record, 0-30 in the PCL." That's got to be a typo, but if it's not, then we understand why he's hanging it up. 0-30 in league play? Yeeoooow.

According to the Times story, Allen will continue teaching social studies at Costa Mesa. "I'm taking a timeout to take care of some personal things, all of which are positive," said Allen, who does not rule out a return to coaching. "I enjoyed being a high school coach and if that opportunity presents itself, or maybe the chance to be an assistant at the college level, that would be an option I would take a look at." The Mustangs have not had a winning season since 1982. "I don't think there was a level of frustration, but there is a lot of work to be done. We had some moments, put a few games together and made it exciting." Allen became Costa Mesa's 14th coach after guiding the Trabuco Hills High sophomore team for two seasons. He played at Trabuco Hills, Orange Coast College and Western State College in Colorado.