Basketball Coaches Named at Birmingham, Burbank Highs

Al Bennett, a former assistant coach at El Camino Real High and Pierce College, will be his own boss for the first time after being named basketball coach at Birmingham High.

Burbank High also has changed basketball coaches, selecting Fred Cook to succeed John Downum, who was fired after two seasons. Downum also coached the baseball team last spring but has resigned from the Burbank faculty.

Bennett replaces Elliot Turret, who resigned last week from Birmingham to take a job as an assistant at Los Angeles City College. Turret led the Braves to a 11-9 record in 1987-88 and a 9-12 mark last season.

Birmingham Principal Mary Farrell praised Bennett, a social studies teacher at the school, saying he is a good selection despite his lack of head coaching experience.

“I know he has the ability and he works well with students, “ she said. “Plus, he’s on campus, which is a help.”

Cook is a former assistant coach at South Pasadena who joined the Burbank faculty last year as a science teacher. He was an assistant coach in the track program and also assisted the sophomore football team. He will drop the football job but may keep the track position, according to Athletic Director Frank Kallem.

Kallem also may add a co-coach to the staff.

The school is still looking for a baseball coach and may hire a woman to coach the team. Chris Krohn, the school’s softball coach, has expressed interest in the job along with Rich Emanuel, who joined the staff this school year as a history teacher.