media reports

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SoCalHoops News

Coaching Snippets, Media
Reports & "Stuff"--(Apr. 3, 2000)

If you were anywhere else but Indianapolis this weekend, things were pretty quiet on the hoops front in SoCal. Other than some pretty good games played at the Slam N Jam League and a couple of games that we didn't get to see (but heard plenty about) which were played down at Aliso Niguel featuring some of the top LA City Section players who took on two different SCA teams (an "older" team including Tyson Chandler, Steve Moore, and a younger team with Harrison Schaen, Travonte Nelson, Trayvon Williams, Fred Washington, etc), there wasn't much going on. We spent some time perusing the local papers (as well as the internet versions of these papers) and came away with some news, mostly on the coaching front:

Tustin Coaching Job: The LA Times on Saturday noted that Richard Bossenmeyer is expected to be named boys' basketball coach at Tustin High. According to the Times, "the announcement was supposed to be made this week, but it has been held up until the school board gives its approval April 10." The Times noted that Bossenmeyer, 34, compiled a 90-59 record at Orange High in the early and mid-1990s before becoming an assistant at Chapman and Cal State Fullerton.

Los Al Interviews: Another snippet form the Times: Los Alamitos is continuing it's interviews for head basketball coach. The Times noted that 10 candidates would be interviewed on Saturday. According to the Times, Los Al vice principal Jerry Halpin said a decision is expected by April 14. There are a number of prominent candidates, but the only one mentioned by the Times as a possible finalist was Foothill Coach Bob Thate.

More Los Al: The Orange County Register had a bit more on the speculation surrounding Bob Thate, and posted a story on page 15 of their print version that Thate in fact resigned as the Foothill boys' coach effective Friday. According to the Register, "Thate said he plans to pursue other coaching opportunitites and will interview today for the vacant Los Alamitos boys baksetball coaching position."

Foothill Replacement: The Register also spoke with Vince Brown, the Foothill AD, who said the school is searching for a replacement coach for Thate "immediately". Interested candidates can contact Brown directly at (714) 730-7472.

Vonn Webb Gets On His Horse And Rides On: The Fresno Bee's Saturday edition noted that Vonn Webb, who coached at Washington Union and led them to the State title twice in four seasons, has left the University of Wyoming after one year as a member of the basketball coaching staff. According to the Bee, "a source close to Webb said the former Washington High coach left Wyoming for family reasons, and added, "He wants to get back to California and is already looking into several opportunities. I would expect him to land at a college in California."' The Bee noted that, like everyone else in the coaching world looking for a job, Webb was at the Final Four last week in Indianapolis.

All Aboard the Transfer Train: Did anyone else think there was just a bit of irony in Eric Sondheimer's regular Sunday column in the LA Times? At the very end of the article (which also featured some nice stuff on the Grant Lancer's basketball banquet) there appeared the following: "Applications to attend a City Section high school based on open enrollment are available May 1. There are not many spots available in the region. El Camino Real and Kennedy have zero openings. Taft leads with 275 openings. Chatsworth has 225, Canoga Park 100, Granada Hills 75, and Cleveland 50. If schools receive more applicaitons than openings, a lottery will be held."