Kearney Calls It Quits as Verbum Dei Coach

Mike Kearney has resigned from Verbum Dei High School, leaving its state champion basketball team without a coach.

Kearney, who this year led the team to its first-ever state Division IV title, said he no longer feels he can do his job effectively as teacher and coach under the school administration.

“I’m leaving because I’m dissatisfied with the direction of the school,” Kearney said on Wednesday. “I’m not confident in the leadership.”

Kearney declined to elaborate. He plans to leave this summer when the school year ends.

Verbum Dei principal Marvin Threatt declined to comment specifically on Kearney’s resignation.

“Why should anyone care whether a teacher or coach at this school resigns?” he said. “The position is open and we’re looking for someone to fill it.”

In six seasons, Kearney led the Eagles to five appearances in the Southern Section lower division finals. He won Southern Section Division IV-A titles in 1994 and 1995 and a state Division IV title in 1995.

He posted an overall record of 124-46, including 74-14 during the last three seasons.

Kearney, 33, also was voted City Times’ Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1995 by sportswriters and area coaches.

“I’ve always admired the way he related to his team,” said Loyola Coach Bill Thomason.

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Kearney, who is white, was often asked whether he found it difficult to teach in a private parochial school in Watts that has more than 300 students, most of whom are African American and Latino.

“I remember a [reporter] asked me in the past if there are any problems being a white guy teaching in that situation,” said Kearney, who also headed the school’s English Department. “When I first started, it never came up. I still say with confidence that it’s never been an issue with the parents or the kids.”

Players were dismayed at news of Kearney’s departure.

Said point guard Deon Williams: “I thought it was disappointing about the coach’s decision. He had the respect of the players. Everyone got along. When he told the players, everyone’s mouth dropped open.”

Kearney, a native of New Jersey, had planned to be a lawyer after graduating from George Mason University Law School in Virginia. He had modest success as a basketball player at St. Joseph’s High School in New Jersey (Now Monsignor Donovan High School) and earned a scholarship to Assumption College, a Division II program in Worcester, Mass.

Instead of pursuing a law career, Kearney came to Verbum Dei as a teacher through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. He was hired as an English teacher and junior varsity coach by Father Steve Nejasmich in 1988.

Robert Mendoza replaced Nejasmich as principal and Kearney succeeded Gilbert Baker as the boys’ varsity coach.

The new position fulfilled a lifelong dream for Kearney, who had long admired one of the city’s traditionally strongest basketball programs. Kearney’s wife, Kimberly, also took a teaching position at Verbum Dei in 1992. She left the school in the spring of 1994.