Pete Newell Jr. is coming back.
Newell, son of the legendary former Cal coach, will return to coach the Santa Cruz High girls basketball team in 2014-2015, Newell said by phone late Saturday night from his home in Las Vegas.
The revelation is stunning news, since Newell is revered as a teacher of the game in Santa Cruz County and beyond and because it's been 10 years since he led the Cardinal boys team to the 2004-2005 Division III state title.
"I'm excited for a number of reasons," Newell said. "I'm looking forward to re-connecting with young people. One of the returning Santa Cruz players I had at one of my camps when she was in second grade. Now, 10 years later, I will be coaching her. The other players I don't know. I'll definitely be starting from scratch."
Newell also said Lawan Milhouse has been chosen to coach the Santa Cruz boys team. Newell and Milhouse will replace the married coaching couple of Patrick and Monique Jones who resigned as the Cardinal boys and girls coaches, respectively, earlier this month with no explanation from the Joneses or the school.
Patrick Jones' replacement, Milhouse, was the Santa Cruz junior varsity coach last season. He was not immediately available for comment.
The Santa Cruz girls went 15-13 last season. The varsity had 10 non-seniors on the roster, six of whom are 5-foot-8 or taller. The Santa Cruz boys went 19-10 (11-1 in the SCCAL).
Newell coached for 30 years at Santa Cruz High and once estimated he's taught more than 7,000 students as an educator. Among the players he coached at Santa Cruz in the 1980s were Glenallen Hill and Johnny Johnson, who had success in major league baseball and the NFL, respectively.
Newell, 70, also has ties to three West Catholic Athletic League schools, having played at St. Ignatius (then a member of the Academic Athletic Association) as well as coaching underclassmen ball at Archbishop Mitty and then the varsity team at Serra in 1973-74.
It was after his one season at Serra that Newell took the job in Santa Cruz, then a sleepy, coast-side tourist mecca he agrees has changed much since the mid-1970s.
So has the prep basketball landscape, given the emergence of travel ball and a less team-oriented style of play. But there to help Newell adjust will be two former all-league Santa Cruz High players who will assist him -- Tara Kemp and Kali Campbell.
Kemp has been teaching in the San Jose area, but has recently landed an elementary school job in Santa Cruz close to the high school campus. Campbell is a single mom who is pursuing a teaching credential, Newell said.
Newell will still maintain his residence in Las Vegas, but will live for the four months of basketball season at the home of John Wilson, one of his former players. During the off-season, Kemp and Campbell will maintain contact with the team, with Newell returning to Santa Cruz periodically, as he does anyway.
"We want to re-store the fun of competition," Newell said.
Santa Cruz, under Newell, won at least a share of 14 league titles in 18 years leading up to the 2004-2005 season. But the Cardinals had never won a section championship until pulling off the feat that season led by standouts such as Junior Russell, Jesse LoBue and the 6-foot-8 Cliff Sammet.
Newell did not cut, so the Cardinals carried 19 players that season and won their contests by an average of 23 points. They scored 91 points against Watsonville in one game and held Harbor to 17 in another.
Santa Cruz (36-1) capped that memorable season by defeating St. Augustine 67-56 in the state Division III title game in Sacramento. That appeared to be Newell's last game on the bench -- until this most recent news from the free-thinking, retired educator.
Newell for many years has bemoaned the state of the boys high school game and the influence of such outside influences as ESPN and travel ball on the preps, noting that the girls play a more fundamental, team-oriented style.
Said Newell to the San Francisco Chronicle in 2005: "The game is so different for the boys. They'd rather do the spectacular and be successful than the fundamental and be successful. If they do the spectacular and come up short, it's OK. If they do the fundamental and come up short, it's boring. The girls just want to improve."
The Santa Cruz girls will have that opportunity this season, and under a legend no less. It's a story worth watching.
NEWELL'S VARSITY BOYS' BASKETBALL COACHING RECORD
Sources: santacruzsportshistory.com, Patrick Segurson, CCS records)
AT JUNIPERO SERRA
1974 LEAGUE (8-4) FOURTH SEASON (20-6) WCAL Playoffs (1-1)
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Riordan (10-2) Round Robin Champion
Serra 54 Riordan 50
St. Ignatius 46 Serra 37
WCAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINT GAME
Riordan 55 St. Ignatius 45
Riordan W.C.A.L. Champions
AT SANTA CRUZ
1975 LEAGUE (1-14) LAST SEASON (1-23)
1976 LEAGUE (4-11) THIRD SEASON (6-18) (3-7 in North Division)
1977 LEAGUE (5-5) THIRD SEASON (10-14)
1978 LEAGUE (7-8) THIRD SEASON (8-15)
1979 LEAGUE (4-6) FOURTH SEASON (11-13) Won Dads Club Tournament
1980 LEAGUE (5-5) ? SEASON (10-14) CCS (0-1). League playoffs (2-1).
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM:
Hollister 64 Santa Cruz 54
1981 LEAGUE (2-8) Tied for Last SEASON (9-14)
1982 LEAGUE (9-3) Tied second SEASON (16-11)
1983 LEAGUE (8-4) Third SEASON (16-11)
1984 LEAGUE (6-8) ? SEASON (10-16)
1985 LEAGUE (11-3) Co-Champions [Aptos] SEASON (15-03) CCS Div. II South Semi Final’s (1-1)
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: North Salinas
Santa Cruz 61 Palma 44
North Salinas 52 Santa Cruz 37
North Salinas C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division II South Semi Finalist
1986 LEAGUE (10-4) Second SEASON (22-7) CCS Div. II South Semi Final’s (1-1)
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Aptos
Santa Cruz 42 Carmel 34
Palma 42 Santa Cruz 38
Aptos C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division II South Semi Finalist
1987 LEAGUE (11-4) Third SEASON (16-12)
1988 LEAGUE (13-1) Champions SEASON (27-8) NorCal (0-1). CCS Div. III Finalist (3-1).
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Jefferson (29-1)
Santa Cruz 76 Willow Glen 56
Santa Cruz 55 Cupertino 46
Santa Cruz 62 San Mateo 57
Jefferson 65 Santa Cruz 58
Jefferson C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz Second Place C.C.S. Division III
1989 -- Newell took season off from coaching in '89. Tom Loden coached team.
1990 LEAGUE (12-0) Champions SEASON (21-9) CCS Div. III (0-1). League playoffs (2-0).
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Aragon (27-2)
Jefferson 46 Santa Cruz 45 Overtime
Aragon C.C.S. Champions
1991 LEAGUE (7-5) Third SEASON (13-17) CCS Div. III (0-1).
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: San Mateo (23-6), lost Championship Game
Lynbrook 65 Santa Cruz 55
Leigh C.C.S. Champions
1992 LEAGUE (10-2) Second SEASON (24-7) CCS Div. III (0-1). League playoffs (2-0).
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Seaside (26-3)
Lincoln 54 Santa Cruz 51
Seaside C.C.S. Champions
1993 LEAGUE (10-4) tied Second SEASON (19-13) CCS Div. III (1-1).
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Palo Alto (27-0)
Santa Cruz 50 Mountain View 48
Palo Alto 75 Santa Cruz 57
Palo Alto C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Quarter Finalist
1994 LEAGUE (10-2) Champions SEASON (21-10) CCS Div. III (1-1). League playoffs (2-0).
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Aragon (26-3)
Santa Cruz 69 Mountain View 57
Palo Alto 61 Santa Cruz 56
Aragon C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Quarter Finalist
1995 LEAGUE (8-4) Second SEASON (19-12) CCS Div. III (1-1). Beat round robin Champion Harbor twice in the league playoffs to be co-champions
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Gunderson (22-4)
Santa Cruz 72 Aragon 65
Gunderson 63 Santa Cruz 62
Hillsdale C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Quarter Finalist
1996 LEAGUE (11-1) Champions SEASON (24-7) CCS Div. III Semi Final’s (2-1). Won Dads Club Tournament
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Palo Alto (22-6)
Santa Cruz 54 Mills 51
Santa Cruz 41 Soquel 38
Palo Alto 55 Santa Cruz 52
Palo Alto C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Semi Finalist
1997 LEAGUE (11-1) Co-Champions [San Lorenzo Valley] SEASON (23-10) CCS Div. III Semi Final’s (2-1). SLV beat SC in the league playoffs for a Co-Championship.
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Hillsdale (27-0)
Santa Cruz 69 Aragon 51
Santa Cruz 60 Jefferson 45
Hillsdale 61 Santa Cruz 38
Hillsdale C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Semi Finalist
1998 LEAGUE (5-7) tie Fourth SEASON (13-17) CCS Div. III (0-1)
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Seaside (21-6), lost in second round
Mitty 70 Santa Cruz 51
Riordan C.C.S. Champions
1999 LEAGUE (12-0) Champions SEASON (32-1) CCS Div. III Semi Final’s (2-1). Santa Cruz was 32-0 going into the final game.
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Santa Cruz (32-1)
Santa Cruz 70 Saratoga 62
Santa Cruz 54 Capuchino 38
Riordan 44 Santa Cruz 33
Riordan C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Semi Finalist
2000 LEAGUE (9-3) Co-Champions [Aptos] SEASON (26-6) CCS Div. III (1-1), seeded second. Second in round robin, but won playoffs to be Co-Champions with Aptos.
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Seaside (24-5), lost in Semi Finals
Santa Cruz 70 Alvarez 50
Mitty 58 Santa Cruz 56
Mitty C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Quarter Finalist
2001 LEAGUE (12-0) Champions SEASON (30-4) CCS Div. III Semi Final’s (2-1), seeded fifth
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Riordan (25-8)
Santa Cruz 62 San Mateo 41
Santa Cruz 70 Seaside 52
Riordan 55 Santa Cruz 54
Riordan C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Semi Finalist
2002 LEAGUE (10-2) Tri-Champions [Monta Vista Chr. & Soquel] SEASON (23-9) CCS Div. IV Semi Final’s (2-1), seeded fourth
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Riordan (27-4), lost in championship game
Santa Cruz 77 Terra Nova 58
Santa Cruz 62 Jefferson 52
Riordan 66 Santa Cruz 58
Sacred Heart Cathedral C.C.S. Champions, Riordan State Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Semi Finalist
2003 LEAGUE (7-5) Co-Champions [Soquel] SEASON (21-14) CCS Div. IV Semi Final’s (2-1)
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Oceana (21-10), lost in championship game
Santa Cruz 83 King City 47
Santa Cruz 57 Valley Christian (SJ) 45
Monta Vista Chr. 67 Santa Cruz 34
Monta Vista Chr. C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Semi Finalist
2004 LEAGUE (12-0) Champions SEASON (30-3) CCS Div. III Semi Final’s (2-1). Tourneys won: Dads Club, Palma
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Santa Cruz (30-3)
Santa Cruz 81 Monterey 75
Santa Cruz 67 Branham 56
Burlingame 56 Santa Cruz 51
Saint Ignatius C.C.S. Champions
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Semi Finalist
2005 LEAGUE (12-0) Champions SEASON (36-1) State Champions (1-0). NorCal Champions (3-0). CCS Div. III Champions (3-0).
Three preseason tourneys won: Dads Club, Palma and St. Francis (first time)
PLAYOFFS: TOP SEEDED TEAM: Santa Cruz (32-1)
Santa Cruz 88 El Camino 46
Santa Cruz 45 St. Ignatius 33
Santa Cruz 56 Burlingame 42
Santa Cruz C.C.S. Division III Champions
