Goffredo Steps Down at Crescenta Valley

John Goffredo, who is among the most successful and respected boys’ basketball coaches in the region, has resigned as coach at Crescenta Valley High after 19 seasons.

Goffredo, 45, compiled a 313-171 record and led the Falcons to the playoffs 16 times. He cited family considerations for stepping down as coach. He will retain his job teaching health at the school.

Goffredo wants to watch his 12-year-old son, Jimmy, play basketball. He has two daughters, Kristen, 18, and Kimberly, 15.

Goffredo remarried in October, three years after losing his first wife, Kathy, to ovarian cancer.

“For 25 years I’ve been with everybody else’s kids,” he said. “I’d like to spend more time with my own. After Kathy died, I wanted to keep things going.

“There are a million reasons, really. I get headaches after games. The stress was wearing me down.”

Crescenta Valley has had only two boys’ basketball coaches, Goffredo and Ed Goorjian. Goffredo, who played guard for Burroughs High in the late 1960s, was Goorjian’s assistant for six years before succeeding him in 1978.

Goffredo led Crescenta Valley to one league title and 12 consecutive playoff berths, a streak that was snapped this season when the Falcons were 12-13 and finished fourth in the Pacific League.

Wins and losses, Goffredo said, did not influence his decision. Goffredo said he does not aspire to climb the coaching ranks but did not rule out a return.

“If I miss it so bad next year, I’m young enough to come back,” he said.

Crescenta Valley assistant Jim Smiley, who was a ball boy and player for Goffredo, is a candidate to replace him.