University City’s Krebs Found Dead in His Sleep

SAN DIEGO —  Two years ago, University City High boys’ basketball Coach Tom Medigovich couldn’t hide his excitement about a sophomore point guard who just earned a spot on the varsity roster. He was talking about a skinny kid, about 5-feet-11, named Ian Krebs.

“He’s got a chance to start on this team,” Medigovich said then. Krebs, however, wound up playing behind Anthony Hill, 1989-90 Times All-County guard, for two years.

Krebs didn’t become the Centurions’ leader until this season. But he was making the most of it, averaging 10 points and six assists. He helped UC to a key City Western League victory in his last game, a 65-64 win over USDHS Jan. 25. Krebs scored 11 points. Earlier this week, he missed a game with Mission Bay because of a sprained ankle.

Krebs, a senior, was found dead Friday. He apparently died of heart failure while sleeping, coaches and family friends said. They said Krebs, who also competed in football and track at UC, had no prior heart problems.

The County Coroner’s office provided no details, but it is expected to conduct an autopsy today with the results available by Monday.

“He didn’t wake up to go to school this morning,” said Mary Scheffel, a family friend. Scheffel said the Krebs family went out for dinner Thursday and Ian showed no signs of illness.

Krebs was a very popular figure on the UC campus and news of his death had a paralyzing effect on students, said Allan LaMotte, school athletic director. Medigovich was notified at 10 a.m., at which time an emergency team meeting was called and Friday’s game against Kearny was postponed.

“It was almost like when (President) Kennedy was shot,” LaMotte said of the mood on campus. “It was a sad day. Everybody was in shock. At least half the kids that were in school during sixth period were not in class. They were in the quad either trying to talk or cry or hug each other or get some support one way or another.

“Here’s somebody you think is the picture of heath. There’s nothing wrong with him, and he dies. Evidently, it was natural causes.”

Dr. Steve Gross, a cardiologist at Mercy Hospital whose son, Eric, is on the UC basketball team, speculated that Krebs’ death was caused by heart failure. However, he doubted that Krebs suffered a heart attack.

“Most likely when it’s a young athlete, it’s an architectural congenital problem causing some kind of arrhythmia, an irregular heart rhythm that makes the heart stop beating,” Gross said. “Usually, kids don’t have heart attacks.”

Gross, who coached Krebs at Standley Junior High, called the youth “a super kid and a super athlete.” Medigovich said he was impressed by Krebs’ overall game, particularly his maturity, when he came to him as a sophomore.

“Ian could have started on several teams that year,” he said. “He was the one, more than anybody, who could keep his head out there in tough situations. Most kids in high school idolize pro guys. The Michael Jordans. But I’ve got a number of kids on my team that idolize Ian. How many kids can you say that about? He was everything that they wanted to be.”

Before Krebs took over at point guard this season, he reached the 1990 state track meet in the high jump. Playing football for the first time, Krebs started at defensive back and was named all-league as a kicker.

UC suspended all of its sports events and extra curricular activities Friday and is planning an on-campus memorial Monday.