Perry Resigns as La Quinta’s Basketball Coach

Jim Perry, the La Quinta High School boys’ basketball coach for the past 10 seasons, announced his resignation Tuesday.

Perry, 39, compiled a 126-113 record and won four Garden Grove League titles during his tenure. La Quinta qualified for the Southern Section playoffs in his first eight seasons and advanced as an at-large entry the last two years.

“I have a great love for coaching, the kids and the program,” Perry said. “I also have a great love for my two children. When I’m coaching, I feel like I’m cheating my family. When I’m with my family, I feel like I’m cheating my players. It’s not fair to either.”

Perry will remain as the school’s athletic director and will assume the presidency of the Orange County Athletic Directors Assn. in the fall.

“The administrative part of sports is a new challenge for me,” he said. “I’m going to get more involved with the national athletic directors organization.”

Perry also announced that former assistant Kevin Kiernan had resigned at Savanna and would replace him at La Quinta.

Kiernan, 29, led Savanna to a 17-10 record and a second-place finish in the Orange League after serving as girls’ basketball coach and Perry’s assistant at La Quinta for five years.

Kiernan developed one of the county’s top girls’ programs at La Quinta, where he led teams to a 112-24 record in five seasons and a 4-A division title in 1990.

“Before I decided to resign, I insisted that Kevin get the job,” Perry said. “He’s going to begin his student teaching next spring at La Quinta, and we’re hopeful we can get him on the teaching staff the next year.”