El Dorado Girls’ Coach Raya Dies at 29

Gary Raya, who turned El Dorado’s girls’ basketball team into an Orange County power, died Wednesday of an apparent heart attack. He was 29.

Raya, who also was an assistant with the boys’ varsity team, was discovered Wednesday afternoon by his parents, said Carl Sweet, El Dorado’s boys’ athletic director.

Raya’s parents found him after becoming concerned that he did not answer their knocks on his bedroom door, Sweet said.

“I can’t tell you how devastated we all are,” said Sweet. “The Raya family has been a part of El Dorado since the beginning of the school. They have been through so much already after losing two other sons to heart problems.”

Raya coached the girls’ team to an 83-24 record in four years; the Golden Eagles were 20-6 last season, reached the Southern Section quarterfinals and finished the year ranked ninth in Orange County.

Sweet said Raya had been a part of the El Dorado family since he was old enough to walk.

“His father, Joe, has been working as an equipment man at El Dorado since it opened, and Gary has always been here as a ball boy and such,” Sweet said. “When he graduated from El Dorado in ‘84, he started coaching in the ‘85-86 season. He was El Dorado through and through.”

Tim Tivenan, the boys’ head basketball coach, had worked with Raya the last 2 1/2 years.

Raya, who attended Cal State Fullerton, was planning to quit his assistant boys’ position and devote all of his time to the girls’ team, said Tivenan.

Former Cypress girls’ basketball coach John Selbe also was shocked by the news.

“Terrible tragedy--anybody so young and full of life,” he said. “It’s the worse thing that can happen. He has done a lot for kids.”

Sweet said plans for a memorial service are pending until the family announces funeral arrangements.

Times staff writer Martin Henderson contributed to this story.