Successful, Controversial Coach Resigns : Girls’ basketball: Maurice Roberson quits after the junior varsity coach is suspended for a rules violation.

Maurice Roberson, the highly successful girls’ basketball coach at Lynwood High School, resigned unexpectedly last week, shortly after the school’s junior varsity coach had been disciplined for violating CIF Southern Section rules.

The school suspended Ellis Barfield from coaching because, according to Principal Mickey Cureton, he coached a team of Lynwood varsity players during an off-season tournament last spring in violation of the rules of the Southern Section, which governs area high school sports.

Roberson, 57, admitted Tuesday that he allowed Barfield to coach in the tournament, but said he was unaware that it was against the rules. He said he resigned the $1,800-a-year position because he had tired of working long hours without receiving satisfactory recognition or salary.

“I got totally frustrated,” Roberson said. “I really needed to have faith from the principal (that I was doing a good job). I just didn’t feel enough people made me feel comfortable about (the success I had.)”

The resignation culminated a controversial four-year career in which Roberson guided Lynwood to a 103-16 record and appearances in two Southern Section finals and two semifinal games. He was chosen The Times’ South Coast coach of the year last season after leading the Knights (28-3) to the state championship game, which they lost to top-ranked Peninsula.

During his tenure, Roberson was often critical of the Lynwood administration and angered many coaches who felt he played by his own rules. Roberson dismissed those charges as “innuendos.”

“I thought I needed to make a change,” he said. “Some of the directions that were taking place at Lynwood were not the way I wanted to be going.”

Lynwood Athletic Director Bill McGinis said Barfield will replace Roberson when his suspension ends Nov. 23, a week after basketball practice begins.