Bellatty Cites Burnout, Quits as Calabasas Basketball Coach

Bill Bellatty, citing “coaching burnout,” resigned as boys’ basketball coach at Calabasas High after the Coyotes’ 74-63 loss to Cabrillo in the first round of the Southern Section 2-A Division playoffs Friday night.

Bellatty, 47, made the decision three weeks ago after Calabasas qualified for the playoffs for the fourth time in his five seasons as coach.

“It was just taking too much out of me,” he said. “Emotionally, I was drained from Thanksgiving to the end of the season.”

Bellatty had lost 35 pounds since the start of the season and recently broke out in hives.

“The weight loss has always happened to me,” he said. “But I’ve got a rash all over my back right now and that’s never happened.”

Calabasas’ performance on the court was not responsible for Bellatty’s decision, he said.

“I got everything I could out of the kids. I couldn’t have been happier with them. But it was just too much work. The fun had gone out of it.”

Bellatty said his retirement from basketball might not be permanent.

“There’s a chance that I’ll come back in a couple of years,” he said. “But I definitely won’t be coming back next season.

“It’s been a hell of a lot of fun, but I just need a rest.”