After One Season as Coach, Redondo’s Warren Resigns

Cliff Warren has resigned after one season as the Redondo High boys’ basketball coach, the third time he has left a coaching job in the past year.

“I think I’m going to take a little rest,” he said. “It takes time to build a winning team, and I don’t feel comfortable not putting in the time I feel I should put in.”

Warren took the Redondo job last fall after former Sea Hawk Coach Steve Shaw resigned to become an assistant at El Camino College. Warren guided Redondo to a 13-14 record, a fourth-place finish in the competitive Ocean League and a berth in the Southern Section Division II-A playoffs. The Sea Hawks were beaten in the first round by Alemany.

It was rumored that Warren had difficulty adjusting to the attitudes of Redondo’s players, but he said that wasn’t a factor in his decision to step down. He coached Rolling Hills High to a 123-46 record and three Bay League titles in six seasons before coming to Redondo.

“Anywhere you go it’s a little different, but I had good players (at Redondo), so it was fun,” he said. “But I’d be doing a disservice if I stayed. I think it would be better for Redondo if they got someone who is going to stay there for a long time.

“I got kind of spoiled after six years at Rolling Hills.”

Redondo Athletic Director Greg Fucci said he was surprised that Warren resigned.

“It sounded like Cliff didn’t want to put in the time anymore,” Fucci said. “At least he realized that. I think too that our kids are different than what he is used to. A Redondo kid is a more hard-nosed, middle-class kid than someone off the hill.”

Fucci said Warren was at a disadvantage because he could not work with Redondo’s players last summer. Also, several key players came out late for basketball because they were involved in football.

“I’m sure there was a degree of frustration with that type of situation,” Fucci said. “It’s unfortunate that he didn’t take a year off and decide to come back with this (underclass) group. He is going to be missed.”

Fucci said Redondo will accept applications for a new basketball coach through the next month, preferably selecting someone who can also fill a teaching position. One of the candidates reportedly is Tim Myers, a former Redondo player who was an assistant to Warren.

Warren said he has no plans to coach next season.

“I’ve already had three jobs in one year,” he said, laughing. “Do you think I want to have four? No, I don’t think there is anywhere else to pop up.”

After Rolling Hills was closed as part of the consolidation with Peninsula, Warren was named coach at Harbor College in April. He resigned a few weeks later to care for his mother, who had suffered a stroke. Her situation had improved enough by last fall for Warren to take the Redondo job.