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SoCalHoops High School & Prep News

Ontario High Picks De Fabiis As New Coach--(June 6, 1998)

This report is about a month old, but since we hadn't reported it at the time, it's better late than never. Ontario High, which has been on a rebuilding pattern the last few years, is continuing with the naming of a new head coach, Jerry De Fabiis. De Fabiis, 27, a 1988 Damien High School graduate, had been an assistant coach at Claremont for the last two years and at Don Lugo for two years before that after graduating from Cal State Fullerton. He replaces Jerry Ronnebeck, who resigned after leading the Jaguars to the playoffs last season. "He comes very highly recommended. When he walked in (to be interviewed), he looked like a man on a mission," Ontario Athletics Director Rhonda Rockwell said. "He had a real positive aura."

De Fabiis said he wanted the right situation to begin his career as a head coach. "I was looking for the right job, and this was the right job. If I didn't find the right job, I would've stayed at Claremont. I didn't apply for every open job," he said. "I'm from the area and I've heard good things about the administration and I've been involved in the community. I just feel this is a team with a lot of talent. I went to a clinic in (Las) Vegas and everyone told me they were raw, they just need discipline." De Fabiis had been teaching at Arroyo Elementary School in Ontario the last few years, and will now teach at the high school level.