Hirst might sail away

NEWPORT BEACH — The day before making the George Yardley Summer Cage Classic championship, one of Coach Larry Hirst’s assistants praised how Newport Harbor High’s coaching staff is intact.

From top to bottom, the same basketball coaches from last year are returning for the upcoming season.

“First time in my six years at the school,” Bob Torribio said. “You can’t find another public school in Orange County that can say that.”

Newport Harbor might be one of those schools that can’t say that after the 2007-08 season, and Torribio’s not expecting to leave.

The program’s top man, who has taken the Sailors to the postseason in 11 of his 12 seasons, plans to go on a sabbatical.

Hirst made the announcement after his summer team lost to El Toro, 68-37, at home Sunday afternoon, ending a week in which he described as “long.”

The Sailors entertained a team from New Zealand for three days and played some exhibition games before competing in four games in their own tournament.

But what made the week strenuous was the tournament opener against Hirst’s alma mater, Edison, where he was a varsity assistant for 10 years and a stand-in coach one year before coming to Newport Harbor. The game reminded Hirst of his future, spurring him to go public with his decision before the school year, because his son, Tanner, is trying out for the freshmen team at Edison.

If Tanner makes it, chances are he’ll continue to pursue basketball, putting his 45-year-old dad in a conundrum.

“I don’t want to coach against him,” said Hirst, laughing about it now, unaware of what the future holds. “I’m only going to take a sabbatical if it’s a conflict with my athletic schedule and I can’t see him play. I want to be at every game.

“I’m probably going to start being a dad and spectator and watching his career up in the stands. It’s tough to do when you’re coaching.”

There’s a chance Tanner might not stick with basketball. Hirst has said before that his son is interested in “volleyball, or anything that he can possibly make” at Edison.

Last year, when the Sailors rejoined the Sunset League after a long hiatus, Hirst returned to Edison as an opposing coach, with his eighth-grade son.

Tanner rooted for Edison. His dad understood why after winning, 49-41.

“Those are all his friends,” said Hirst, who graduated from Edison in 1979 and later starred at Southern California College, now Vanguard University, where he earned All-NAIA District III honors. “I hope he gets the same thing out of basketball that I got when I was at Edison, and if he’s lucky enough to get to play in college.”

Right now, not getting cut is Tanner’s top priority.

For Hirst, it’s getting the most out of his current summer team before the real season starts in the winter.

The future senior-laden team recently learned it could be Hirst’s last. Cecil Whiteside, the only sophomore with a legitimate shot to make varsity, said Hirst’s departure shocked the team.

Hirst downplayed the reaction.

“I don’t think it sets in [a] teenager’s mind. That’s so far down the road, that’s over a year away,” he said. “I don’t think most of them think more than 10-15 minutes into the future.”

The immediate future looks promising with 6-foot-8 center Kyle Caldwell returning for his senior year.

The Dream Team and first-team, all-league pick helped Newport Harbor (16-12, 5-5 second place in league) advance to the CIF Southern Section Division I-A playoffs, where it became the fourth team in school history to play three postseason games.

As for who will take over the program if Hirst does vacate it, Hirst said he didn’t know. Torribio, 30, said he would pursue the opportunity if it were open, saying it would be his “dream job” to be the head coach at his alma mater.

“I’ve learned so much under Larry,” said the 1995 graduate. “Nowadays it’s more than coaching, but the most valuable thing I’ve learned from Larry is just being a good guy.”

The good guy has been successful at Newport Harbor. He’s had four seasons with 20 or more wins and overall he’s 206-121. Hirst has guided the program to 11 straight postseason berths and the 1998-99 team to a 24-6 record, tying a school record for season wins. Newport Harbor reached the quarterfinals in the playoffs that season, resulting in Hirst earning the Orange County Coach of the Year honor.

In the 2001-02 season, the Sailors claimed their first outright league championship since 1985.

“If he’s not around, it’s a great loss because he’s done a great job with our program,” said Newport Harbor Athletic Director Eric Tweit, adding that he just returned from a vacation in Northern California and wasn’t aware that Hirst planned to leave after this upcoming season.

Whiteside didn’t hear it from Hirst either.

“I just heard from my parents. I was like surprised, but understanding of his schedule,” said the 6-foot-3, 197-pound standout linebacker and discus thrower. “It wouldn’t be like a loss, but it would be a loss.”

Whiteside can say that, since he never played for Hirst on varsity. Caldwell, guards Michael Helfrich and Travis Kuhns, and forward Max Volz did last season.

Three of those players received minutes against a formidable El Toro squad. The Sailors were without their stud, Caldwell. He missed the tournament named after his late grandfather, a Hall of Fame basketball player and Newport Harbor alumnus. Where was Caldwell?

“Junior Olympics volleyball in Atlanta,” said Hirst, answering a question he’s had to respond to with people wanting to know the whereabouts of other players during the summer.

Basketball isn’t the only sports-related commitment players, like Whiteside, have this summer. He has football, and others have baseball and volleyball.

“There are so many inconsistencies because we don’t have all 15 guys every single day at practice,” said Hirst, whose team will play in its third tournament next week in Hawthorne. “Summer is about learning. Nobody ever remembers the summer record. It’s a crazy time.

“It’s good in a sense because we get to see a lot of people go and play different roles. At the same time, it’s tough for the continuity.”

It will be the same with Newport Harbor’s basketball program if Hirst goes on a sabbatical after his 13th season.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.