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SoCalHoops High School & Prep News

Alemany and Coach Sued By Former Player--(June 6, 1998)

Is there ever any good news for Alemany High, the beleagured school in the Mission League of Southern Section which, at least in boys' hoops, went 0-10 last season, winless in league? Their boys' team coach resigned after one season. Then they reported that they had hired Darryl McDonald, an assistant at San Fernando, and they also announced that he was bringing with him two players from the San Fernando team, Devin Montgomery and Jason Tubbs. But then on Thursday of this week, San Fernando announced that its own head coach, Mick Cady had resigned, thus opening up the possibility that Alemany's announcement was perhaps a bit premature.

Now comes some really serious news: Both the LA Times and the Daily News are reporting today that the family of former Alemany High girls' basketball player Devan Zumwalt is seeking $1 million in damages in a lawsuit filed last month against Coach Melissa Hearlihy, Principal Father Robert Milbauer, Athletic Director Dudley Rooney and the Los Angeles Archdiocese. The suit, filed May 19 in San Fernando Superior Court, alleges Zumwalt was subjected to intentional infliction of emotional distress and accuses the school of negligence in supervision. Last year, the archdiocese fired Hearlihy after Damon Zumwalt, Devan's father, filed a grievance against Hearlihy. Alemany later rehired Hearlihy, who guided the Indians (the girls had a much better program than the boys did) to the state Division III championship game in Sacramento in March. Devan Zumwalt, a junior, transferred last season to Brentwood. Hearlihy was notified of the suit on Thursday, the day of Alemany's basketball banquet. A nice touch, we must say.