Troy Coach Kiernan Resigns

Kevin Kiernan, who took the Troy girls’ basketball team to an elite level in Orange County, resigned Friday afternoon for “personal and philosophical reasons.”

“It was more philosophical,” said Kiernan, who in a little over four years guided Troy to a 107-14 record, including a 3-0 start this season.

The Warriors are ranked No. 1 in Orange County. Troy played Huntington Beach in the final of the Troy NJB tournament Friday and won, 67-42.

Christine Collins-Kiernan, Kevin’s wife, and assistant Pete Bonny remain on the staff.

“I would love to see the current staff stay,” said Kiernan, who did not attend Friday’s game.

The Warriors reached the Southern Section Division I-A final last season, then stayed with Harbor City Narbonne for three quarters in the regional playoffs before being eliminated by the eventual state champion, 56-40.

Kiernan’s resignation, tendered to Principal Charles Maruca on Friday, does not affect his position as an instructional aide in the school’s special education department. He also teaches adult education at Cypress College.

“It really hasn’t come out of nowhere, but that’s all I can say on the record at this time,” said Kiernan. “Nothing bad happened. Nothing scandalous happened. It’s just philosophical. I wasn’t asked to resign.”

Troy’s oppressive defensive pressure carried the team to the top of the county rankings last season.

“My coaching philosophy is that we want to work harder than anyone else and I believe we do,” Kiernan said. “I think that’s a good thing.”

Stefanie Schilling, a senior, quit the team before the season, saying basketball was no longer fun for her. “There weren’t any problems,” Schilling said at that point. “I didn’t like the game, and it’s way too time-consuming to do something you don’t enjoy. I wanted to have fun my senior year.”

Asked if the Schilling incident was involved in his decision, Kiernan replied, “Indirectly.”

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In the Troy NJB championship game:

No. 1 Troy 67, Huntington Beach 42--The Warriors (4-0) led, 21-10, after the first quarter and won easily. Veronica Johns-Richardson had five three-pointers and finished with 26 points, nine assists and five steals for Troy, and Alicia Komaki had 18 points, nine assists and five steals.

Amy Sanders had 15 points for Huntington Beach (3-1).