Eagle Coach Will Be at a Crossroads After Season

Senior guard Kevin Falconer will definitely leave Calvary Chapel this spring, after graduating.

Will his father, Coach Craig Falconer, be far behind?

Despite their 50-41 loss to Santa Monica Crossroads in the Southern Section Division IV-A final Friday at the Bren Center, the Eagles should have at least one more game in the state playoffs. They could have as many as four if they advance to the state final.

After that, Craig Falconer said he has a decision to make. Although he is not unhappy at Calvary Chapel, he said he has thought about leaving.

It has nothing to do with his son’s departure, Falconer said. “I still have two other kids in the school,” he said. “I’m trying to decide whether I should return to private business. [Coaching] has kind of been a hardship on my wife.”

Falconer also teaches political science and economics at Calvary Chapel.

If he does leave, it’s not because the program will be totally depleted after this season. Three of Calvary Chapel’s starters on Friday--Joe Ortiz, who led Calvary with 13 points, Garid Beeler and Brett Young--return next season. Waiting in the wings are players from an undefeated junior varsity.

“It’s not like the cupboard will be bare,” Falconer said.

Before Falconer goes anywhere else, he would like one last shot at Crossroads. Falconer said his team let a great opportunity slip away Friday.

“I had hoped we would be more aggressive tonight, like we were against Verbum Dei, which has similar type athletes,” Falconer said. “We knew they would double-team Kevin most of the night and keep the ball out of his hands. But once it left his hands we appeared to have trouble making decisions on what to do next.”

To get another chance at Crossroads, the Eagles would have to win two regional games next week--”Hopefully at home, where we’re a different team,” Falconer said--and hope for a rematch next Saturday.

“That’s the plan,” Falconer said. “We had a great year, and I hope tonight’s effort will not affect us for the next two games.”

What happens after that is the most important question, however.

For Craig Falconer and Calvary Chapel.