Williams Would Welcome a Familiar Face : Basketball: Center plans to play at UCI next season. She says the Anteaters should consider hiring Brea-Olinda Coach Mark Trakh.

Jinelle Williams, Brea-Olinda’s multitalented center, had just completed her three-year high school career that included 99 victories and was contemplating her future.

Williams had scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Saturday in a 54-46 victory over Hayward Moreau in the State Division II girls’ championship game. Next stop: UC Irvine.

Williams will move from center to guard and her role will change from scorer to role player on the next level. She’s bound for the Bren Center, and she suggested that her high school coach, Mark Trakh, might be a good traveling companion.

“I think Coach Trakh would make a great college coach, and I’d like to take him with me,” Williams said. “He’s accomplished everything you could as a coach in high school, so why not see what he can do in college?”

The women’s coaching position at UC Irvine became vacant March 8 when Dean Andrea was fired after 13 seasons. Trakh, the most successful girls’ coach in Orange County history, said he would be interested in the job.

“If they’re interested in talking to a high school coach, I’d be interested in talking to them,” he said. “I sure would like to get an interview.”

Trakh said he would inquire about the position on Monday.

Williams, who plans to major in sports medicine, said Andrea’s dismissal had not changed her decision to attend UCI.

“I didn’t spend much time with Coach Andrea, but I picked the school because of its academics and the opportunity to contribute right away,” she said. “I’ll likely move to guard, but who knows, I may play inside, too.”

Williams made herself right at home inside against Moreau in the first half when she scored 12 of her 16 points. She had 10 points in the first quarter when Brea-Olinda opened up a 19-10 lead.

“It was important to get off to a good start, because once we get started, we always seem to keep it up and then don’t have to sweat it at the end,” Williams said. “Of the three title games, this one was the best because this team is very close and it was such a fun year.”

Williams posted up with her back to the basket for most of her shots, but Trakh insisted she won’t have any difficulty making the transition to guard at UCI.

“She played more in the post with her back to the basket today, but she’s so versatile and can do so many things, I think she’ll adjust to playing outside as a guard just fine,” he said.

Of course, Trakh would like nothing better than to help his prized pupil make the adjustment next season.