Hirst among final four for coaching job

Rick Devereux

College basketball has been linked to the phrase, “final four,” for

years, but Newport Harbor High boys basketball coach Larry Hirst has

a new connection with the term. He is one of four finalists to fill

the vacant men’s head coaching position at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

“I love Harbor, it’s where my heart’s at,” Hirst said. “I just

thought this was an opportunity to move on to the next level.”

Initially there were 26 applicants for the position, but Lamel

Harris, chair of the research committee for the coaching position and

Dominguez Hills’ assistant athletic director, and other members of

the committee narrowed the number to nine, and now to four.

The process started in May for Hirst, when he started to prepare

for a June interview. He will meet with Athletic Director Ron

Prettyman and university administrators Thursday.

“There are so many ifs involved here it almost feels weird talking

about taking the job,” he said. “If the numbers work out, if the

benefits work out and if it helps the Hirst family then I think I owe

it to my family to take the job.”

Hirst is the only high school coach among the final four.

Bob Cantu served the past three years under current USC head coach

Henry Bibby and was recently promoted to assistant coach last May.

Cantu was an assistant coach at Sacramento State prior to USC .

Damaine Powell has been the Compton College head coach the past

six years, leading the Tarters to two California State Championships

during his tenure. Prior to Compton College, Powell was an assistant

at USC, where he played for the Trojans from 1992-94.

Max Ward has served as the assistant coach for the Toros the past

three seasons under former head coach Larry Hauser. Ward was the head

coach at Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, S.C., for one year

before heading to Dominguez Hills.

“The fact that Hirst is the only candidate without collegiate

experience does not matter,” Harris said. “It’s like a championship

game at this point. All of the credentials go out the door.”

Hirst has been with the Sailors for nine years, leading the Tars

to the CIF Southern Section playoffs eight consecutive seasons and

was named the 1998 Orange County Coach of the Year. He was the head

coach at Edison prior to coming to Newport Harbor, leading the

Chargers to a 20-8 record and a CIF final appearance in 1994. Hirst

was an assistant at Southern California College, now Vanguard

University, for two years and was the head coach for the junior

varsity squad.

If hired, Hirst will be taking over a team with a .350 winning

percentage (14-40) the past two years.

“Right now, recruiting is pretty much done,” he said. “But they

have a couple starters returning and will have an assistant stay on.”

Harris and the Toros recognize the tough situation the new coach

will face.

“The first year is always tough and given the late hire it will be

especially so,” Harris said. “We’re not looking for a certain number

of wins this year. We’re looking for someone to come in and maximize

the talent that is already here.”

The possibility of jumping from high school to NCAA Division II

does not intimidate Hirst.

“It’s all coaching to me,” he said. “You just go and hope you can

reach out and teach young men, not only about basketball, but about

how to be productive in their lives.”