Lloyd Will Coach Boys’ Basketball at Brea-Olinda Again

Gene Lloyd, who coached Brea-Olinda High School to seven Orange League boys’ basketball titles in 12 seasons, is returning after a seven-year absence, Pete Boothroyd, assistant superintendent with the Brea-Olinda Unified School District, announced Wednesday.

Lloyd, 55, replaces Phil Henderson, who resigned because of personal reasons.

Henderson, who was the MVP on Lloyd’s Wildcat teams in 1976-77 and 1977-78, had a three-year record of 29-47. Last season, the Wildcats were 7-19, 1-9 in league.

“I’m sorry to see Phil leave, but I’m happy to get the chance to come back and go to work,” Lloyd said.

Brea won 20 or more games in six of Lloyd’s seasons, compiling a 233-93 record from 1973-86. His teams qualified for 10 Southern Section playoff berths.

When he resigned, Lloyd stated that “circumstances have changed, and I’ve changed.”

So what has changed to bring him back? “Circumstances,” Lloyd said. “My family’s grown and my wife, Shirley, is working. She told me to get out of the house or she’d leave me, so I figured it’s cheaper to get out than to get a divorce.

“I’ve got time on my hands, and a good place to put it is in the Brea-Olinda gym.”

Lloyd has remained active in coaching basketball, having run youth summer camps for the last 16 years.

He has spent the last seven years in the district teaching physical education at the junior high level. He will split his teaching time between the junior highs and Brea-Olinda beginning this fall.

Lloyd said he plans on retaining “most if not all of the assistant coaching staff, as they’re all ex-players of mine.”