Girls basketball: Fairchild

NEWPORT BEACH - Brooke Fairchild, a former women’s basketball

player at Pepperdine, has been hired to coach the Newport Harbor High

girls basketball team, Girls Athletic Director Fletcher Olson announced

Monday.

Fairchild, who coached previously at Gateway High in Colorado, replaces

Gregg Savage, who stepped down after posting a 19-36 record in two

seasons.

Fairchild was all-league in basketball, soccer and volleyball as at

Ravenscroft High in Raleigh, N.C.. She began gaining coaching experience

at camps and recreation leagues while playing at Pepperdine, then went on

to coach the girls varsity at Gateway High while earning her teaching

credential at the University of Denver. Most recently, she was the

athletic director at the Pegasus School in Huntington Beach (grades K-8).

Fairchild, whom Olson said hopes to be hired as a teacher at Harbor, but

could also fulfill her role as a walk-on, began working with the Sailors

Monday.

She will continue preparation for the monthlong summer program, scheduled

to begin June 27.

The Sailors, coming off a 4-23 season, return most of their roster,

including Athena Vasquez. Vasquez, who will be a sophomore next season,

led the Tars with a 5.2 scoring average en route to earning honorable

mention for the All-Sea View League selections.

-- by Barry Faulkner