Harvey Kitani leaves Fairfax and will be replaced by Steve Baik, formerly of Chino Hills

Fairfax High is replacing a basketball coaching legend with the coach of last season’s state champion.

Harvey Kitani, Fairfax’s coach for 35 years, said he was retiring from teaching and would leave the Los Angeles Unified School District to become head coach at Rolling Hills Prep, which his two sons attended.

To help the Lions maintain their spot among the best basketball programs in the City Section, Kitani and Fairfax Principal Carmina Nacorda have recruited Steve Baik, the former coach at Chino Hills, to replace him.

“We’re so happy the national coach of the year will be coming in to keep the tradition going,” Kitani said.

Kitani arrived at Fairfax in 1981. The Lions won three City Section Division I championships and four overall, along with two state titles, while sending numerous players onto the college ranks.

“I still feel like I can coach another 10 years,” he said, “but if you’re not teaching, how can you do it?”

He will become the head coach and assistant athletic director at Rolling Hills Prep, which is closer to his home in the South Bay.

Fairfax football Coach Shane Cox called Kitani the “Coach Krzyzewski of Los Angeles City basketball.”

“Beyond all of his accolades, he was a builder of men,” Cox said. “I can’t imagine any other coach doing more for his players. From the minute they arrived at Fairfax to the minute they left, he was building character. He will be deeply missed.”

Baik shocked everyone when he resigned at Chino Hills after guiding the Huskies to a 35-0 record. He said he was looking to move closer to his home in Altadena. Kitani said his assistants would be staying to help Baik, with Jamal Hartwell Sr. becoming associate head coach. Hartwell’s son is a top guard for the Lions.

Baik will be welcoming Chino Hills to the Fairfax summer tournament at the end of June. And the Fairfax State Preview Classic next January at Cerritos College will be run by Kitani at Rolling Hills Prep and include Fairfax and Chino Hills.

Follow Eric Sondheimer on Twitter: @latsondheimer