Van Nuys Names Volleyball Coach

Van Nuys High has named Patricia Denny coach of the girls’ volleyball team.

Denny, a biology teacher at Van Nuys, previously coached volleyball for one year at Alhambra.

Denny replaces Dave Bessler, who resigned last December, one month after the team was disqualified from the playoffs for using an ineligible player.

The top seed in last year’s City Section 4-A playoffs, the Wolves also forfeited all 12 regular-season matches and as further punishment, are banned from the playoffs in 1997.

“We wanted to offer it to a teacher on staff, which is standard procedure, and we felt she was qualified,” said Jack Molina, assistant principal in charge of athletics.

Said Principal Russ Thompson: “[Denny] is a very, very strong teacher and she has a good, solid background in volleyball.”