Simi Valley Basketball Assistant Will Replace Hawking as Coach

Dean Bradshaw has been selected to replace Bob Hawking as the Simi Valley High basketball coach after serving as a Hawking assistant for seven years.

Hawking resigned last week to pursue a job at the college level, ending a 14-year career as the winningest coach in school history with a 230-119 record.

Bradshaw has worked as the Simi Valley junior varsity coach the past six seasons, winning four consecutive Marmonte League titles and five of the past six. His six-year record is 108-24, including a 61-11 mark in league games.

Bradshaw coached the Simi Valley sophomore team one season and the Thousand Oaks JVs for four. His coaching record at the lower levels (172-64) convinced Principal Dave Ellis of his abilities.

“Because he’s a good tactician and a motivator, I’ve seen him win a lot of games in the closing minutes that he probably shouldn’t have won,” Ellis said. “He knows how and when to pay a compliment and is not afraid to do it, which is a good quality to have when dealing with young people.”

Bradshaw also won the endorsement of Hawking, who led the Pioneers to three consecutive league titles and four of the past five. In All-American center Don MacLean’s three seasons with the team, Simi Valley won 81 of 90 games, including last season’s Southern Section 4-A basketball championship, the school’s first.

“He is knowledgeable about basketball, can relate well with people and he’s certainly paid his dues,” Hawking said.

Bradshaw has been serving as the team’s interim coach the past three weeks, preparing Simi Valley for a tournament in Las Vegas from June 17 to 19.