Davis resigns at Corona del Mar

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR -- Elbert Davis whose five-year coaching tenure

with Corona del Mar High girls basketball included the program’s

first league championship in nearly two decades, has stepped down to

become boys coach at Westminster High, he said Monday.

Davis, who starred at Southern California College (now Vanguard

University), was 55-75 in five seasons at CdM, including CIF Southern

Section playoff appearances in 2001 and 2000. He said he values his

experiences with the Sea Kings, but has longed to coach a boys

program.

“The (CdM) group I’m leaving is an awesome group, with the

strongest incoming freshman class they’ve had since I’ve been there,”

Davis said. “But Westminster is a perfect fit for me, right now. I’m

excited about the challenge of building a new program all over again.

I know it’s going to take a lot of work.

“Whoever takes over at CdM, though is walking into a gold mine.”

Davis is a walk-on with the Lions, though he teaches at a nearby

elementary school and plans to begin teaching at Westminster High

next fall. Westminster, which has had little success in boys

basketball since the 1970s, will compete against Estancia and Costa

Mesa, among others, in the Golden West League this season.

“CdM allowed me to get experience and allowed me to grow as a

person and as a coach,” Davis said. “It was tough at times, but

having the chance to cross paths with some certain special

individuals made it all worthwhile.”

Davis said the team that went 22-6 and won the Pacific Coast

League crown in 1999-00 was the highlight of his tenure. The Sea

Kings advanced to the CIF III-AA quarterfinals that season. The

following year, CdM went 7-3 in league to tie for second and advanced

to the CIF III-AA second round before finishing 14-13.

CdM was 7-18 last year, 2-8 in league, and missed the playoffs.

Interested applicants may contact the CdM athletic office at (949)

515-6058.