Fair Resigns as Pacifica Coach

Brent Fair, coach of the Pacifica High School basketball team, resigned Thursday morning after a meeting with Principal Tom Holler to discuss an incident during Wednesday’s 67-57 loss at Esperanza in which Fair was ejected from the game.

Fair, 26, was called for a technical foul after disputing an official’s call in the fourth quarter, shortly after the Mariners had lost the lead. He was ejected when he responded with an outburst that drew a second technical and reportedly made an obscene gesture at the official upon exiting.

Holler held a conference with Fair Thursday morning before writing up a report to the CIF Southern Section office on the incident, as required by CIF rules.

“As athletic director, I thought it was serious,” said Duffy Walker. “Two technicals, an ejection and the gesture as he was leaving the court, I can’t act like it didn’t happen.” But he said the decision to resign was Fair’s.

Pacifica has three Empire League games remaining on its 1986 schedule. Walker said he and Holler will act as co-coaches for the remainder of the season.

The Mariners are 2-9 in the Empire League, 6-14 overall. It has been 14 years since Pacifica has had a winning season.

Fair had worked to build a summer basketball program at Pacifica, to encourage the establishing of youth clinics and teams in West Garden Grove, and to start a high school booster club for the sport.

“We have built a program with long-term goals and considerations that hopefully will stay with the school for eternity,” Fair wrote in his letter of resignation. “Maybe we moved a bit too fast, but I felt sweeping changes were in order. Some frustration built up with all of the changes.”