Trabuco Hills’ Barnett Says He Has Not Decided to Leave

Jim Barnett, the football coach at Trabuco Hills High School, denied on Wednesday a published report that he has accepted a coaching position at Big Sky High School in Missoula, Mont.

Barnett said he has been offered the job at Big Sky, but has not made a decision.

“The article was very premature,” said Barnett, who has coached at Trabuco Hills since it opened in 1985. “I have not made any decision yet. I have not resigned at Trabuco Hills.”

Barnett has guided the Mustangs to two consecutive Southern Section Division VIII championships, defeating Woodbridge in the 1988 championship game and Orange in 1989.

Before coming to Trabuco Hills, Barnett coached at Long Beach Poly for five years. He led the Jackrabbits to three Southern Section title games, winning the championship in 1980.

“We haven’t received any kind of letter of resignation from Jim,” Trabuco Hills Principal William Brande said. “He was approached several times last year and several times this year. It’s all part of being a successful coach.”

In coaching changes at other schools:

--Todd Morse has been hired as the boys’ basketball coach at Santa Ana High School, Athletic Director Bill Ross said.

Morse was a varsity assistant at Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., the past seven years. He will teach physics at Santa Ana.

Morse replaces Nash Rivera, who resigned last month.

--Former Los Amigos boys’ basketball Coach Famous Hooks will take over the school’s girls’ team, Principal Mitch Thomas said.