Eagles’ Simco resigns

Estancia High boys’ basketball coach Jason Simco, who led the Eagles to the CIF Southern Section Division III-A semifinals during the 2004-05 season, officially resigned from his post on Wednesday.

Simco was 36-20 in two years as the Eagles head coach.

“It’s a big blow,” Estancia Boys’ Athletic Director Tim Parsel said. “We thought he did a great job. But guys have to do what they have to do.”

Simco, who graduated from Estancia High in 2000, was a two-time all-league guard for the Eagles as a player.

He coached the Estancia frosh-soph boys’ squad the year after he graduated, then moved on to become the Eagles’ junior varsity boys’ coach for two years before taking the varsity job.

Simco said he wanted to go back to school and concentrate on getting a special-education teaching credential.

“I want to focus more on school and maybe be an assistant somewhere,” Simco said. “Maybe help Tommy [Rausch] with the [Estancia] girls.”

The Eagles (13-14, 7-5 in league in 2005-06) finished third in the Golden West League and reached the CIF Division III-A playoffs. They lost to host Marshall, 72-58, in a wild-card game.

“It was a tough decision,” Simco said. “I didn’t want to do it, because it was my dream job. But I have to work days and study at night. I need to focus on becoming a teacher.”

Parsel said Rausch, a former Estancia boys’ basketball assistant coach who was recently hired as the girls’ basketball coach, could be considered for the boys’ job as well.

“He would like to do both,” Parsel said. “There are people in Orange County doing it. But it takes a unique situation.”

Parsel said Rausch’s assistant, Javier Castellano, would have to assume a bigger role if such a scenario were to play out.

“We have a teaching opening and we’d like to have a teacher-coach, and neither of them are teachers at this point,” Parsel said. “I’ll [publicize] the job in the district first and interview candidates. But [Rausch getting the boys’ coaching job as well] is not out of the question. I’ve learned you can never count anything out.”

Rausch, who found out Monday night about Simco resigning, said he’s planning on applying for the position, but will not vacate his post as the girls’ coach.

“I told the girls today I’m not going anywhere,” Rausch said. “It’s unlikely I would get the boys’ position, too, but I’ve surrounded myself with a lot of good people, like [assistant] Javier Castellano. He’s applying for the boys’ position, too.”

Estancia graduates six seniors from last year’s squad. Those slated to return include Blake Pinto and Taylor McLanahan, both of whom received honorable mention in the All-Golden West League voting.

“It’ll be a good job for whoever gets it,” Simco said. “It’s a good situation. There’s a core group of five returning, and there are some tough freshmen in the program.”

As a first-year coach, Simco led the Eagles to an 11-1 league record ? resulting in a league championship ? and an upset victory over No. 3-seeded Orange Lutheran in the CIF Division III-A quarterfinals.

Carlos Pinto was a first-team All-CIF Division III-A pick and Mike McDaniels was a second-team All-CIF performer for the Eagles that season under Simco.

In addition, Pinto was the Newport-Mesa Player of the Year.