Wright hired at Estancia

Steve Virgen

Ernie Wright, who coached the Estancia High girls junior varsity

basketball team during the 2003-04 school year, has been named the

Eagles’ varsity coach.

The position had been vacant since March 23, when Estancia fired

former coach Tami Rappa, who said she was terminated for “running up

the score,” among other things.

Wright, who assisted Rappa with the varsity team last year, has

been directing the squad and preparing them for summer competition

since Rappa was fired.

Rappa was hired as the head coach for girls basketball at Junipero

Serra June 21. Wright said Rappa asked him to assist her at Serra,

but Wright’s heart was with Estancia.

Even though Rappa was fired, Wright said he is not worried about

his standing with administration at Estancia.

“I feel secure,” Wright said. “I like the girls. I’ve grown with

the girls and have an affection for these girls. I didn’t want to

leave them with somebody else.”

Wright, 42, who lives in Fountain Valley, works as a supervisor

for transportation for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. This

is his first varsity head coaching job. He coached youth basketball

for five years in Fountain Valley.

Last year, he guided the Estancia junior varsity team to a 10-11

record. The varsity team was 11-16 and lost in the first round of the

CIF Southern Section Division III-A playoffs.

Wright said the Eagles are in rebuilding mode, as they have lost

five players to graduation, including Nancy Castro, the Newport-Mesa

Player of the Year. The Eagles will have three returners,

junior-to-be Breanna Neal, as well as Jazmin Flores and Imelda Pena,

who will be seniors.

“It’s going to be difficult,” Wright said of the upcoming season.

“It’s going to be tough. But when we play [the opponents are] going

to know they played against us. There’s no quit in us. I’ve been with

these girls and they’re not quitters. They’re not going to let people

walk all over them. I want them to be in the games, win, lose or

whatever.”

Wright said he is optimistic for the future of the program, as

there are 22 freshmen coming out basketball this year. Wright has

been excited to rebuild the program and remain with the girls he

coached last year. He said he was offered, “a way bigger deal,” at

Serra. Instead he said he is working without pay for the summer at

Estancia.

“I’m obviously not in it for the money,” he said.

Wright said in addition to preparing for the team after Rappa was

fired, he was also fund-raising for the program. He also conducted

practices and coordinated lessons for the incoming freshmen.

“We are way behind and we owe a lot of money for uniforms,” he

said.

Estancia girls athletic director Nancy Ferda is pleased Wright has

been hired as the girls basketball coach.

“He has things running smoothly,” Ferda said. “The kids like him a

lot and so do the parents. He’s really great.”