Millikan’s JV basketball coach takes over

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Jeff Breuklander, the junior-varsity boys’ basketball coach the last three seasons at Long Beach Millikan, has been named the interim varsity coach, replacing Raul Olivas in the wake of Olivas’ arrest last weekend on suspicion of secretly videotaping of a female family member.

Olivas, 41, is scheduled for arraignment Sept. 27 after being arrested Saturday afternoon on a misdemeanor charge of ‘videotaping someone without their knowledge or consent for purposes of sexual gratification, when there is a reasonable expectation of privacy,’ Long Beach Police Department spokesperson Nancy Pratt said.

Olivas was released on a $25,000 bond Saturday night, and, pending resolution of the case, has been placed on an indefinite paid administrative leave by the Long Beach Unified School District.

‘This is a pretty sensitive issue,’ Millikan boys’ Athletic Director Chris Kinder said. ‘On our part, it’s not something that we want to cover up. But at the same time, it’s not something we want to comment on because it’s unresolved. Like anything else, it’s an allegation, and Raul has to have his day in court.’

Olivas, who has been at Millikan since 2000, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Kinder said he has left messages but has not spoken to Olivas since the coach and mathematics teacher was arrested. ‘Obviously, it’s a tough situation,’ he said. ‘It’s not the kind of thing that happens every day, and, of course, it’s hard on the school, it’s hard on the kids.’

Kinder said he expected Breuklander, also a JV baseball coach and a physical-education instructor at Millikan for nine years, to coach the Rams for the duration of the basketball season.

‘I’m just looking forward to today and tomorrow, and moving on,’ said Breuklander, who was named varsity coach on Tuesday. ‘All the kids I’ve coached at some point in time, so we’ve had a pretty easy transition as far as that goes. We’re just working hard and trying to move on and get ready for the season.’

- Lauren Peterson