Boys basketball: McNiell hired at Sage Hill

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - Gordon McNiell, a varsity boys basketball

assistant coach who also guided the Sea Kings’ junior varsity team, will

not replace Paul Orris, who resigned as varsity coach Feb. 26 after 16

seasons at the helm.

McNiell, who teaches at CdM, announced Tuesday he will be the boys

varsity coach at Sage Hill High in Newport Coast, beginning next year.

McNiell, who initially expressed interest in succeeding Orris’ at CdM,

said he will be the Dean of Students at Sage Hill, which opened this fall

with freshmen and sophomores and will field its first varsity team next

season.

“When Paul left, I had no inclination or clue this job was out there,”

McNiell said. “The basketball job was just the icing on the cake to a

rare opportunity for a teacher who doesn’t have an administrative

credential, to get into administration. It’s a promotion for me

(professionally).”

The process of hiring Orris’ replacement will intensity next week, CdM

Athletic Director Jerry Jelnick said.