Gaucho Coach Stuetz Resigns

Dick Stuetz, who was the head football coach at Saddleback College last season after 29 seasons as an assistant, stepped down Monday because he is retiring from teaching.

Stuetz, 65, plans to remain on the football staff as a part-time assistant coach.

He had taken the job last year when the college wasn’t able to make a full-time hire after Bill Cunerty suddenly resigned in the spring for health reasons.

With Stuetz and four other full-time physical education teachers stepping down, the college will be able to hire a full-time football coach.

“The golden handshake was too good a deal to pass up,” Stuetz said. “I had to make sure that my family would be taken care of and this retirement package does just that.”

Also retiring from the Saddleback physical education department are: former track and cross-country coach Duane Cain, former water polo and swimming coach Flip Darr, former football coach George Hartman and former men’s and women’s basketball coach Roy Stevens.

Stuetz will remain in charge of the program, which was 2-8 last season, until a new coach is in place, which should be in March.

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There are no women’s basketball games scheduled in Orange County until Sunday, when the 15-team Fullerton Invitational starts at 9:30 a.m. with Citrus playing Long Beach.

Six games follow, including defending tournament champion Fullerton playing Los Angeles Pierce at 6:15 p.m. followed by Irvine Valley and El Camino at 8. Riverside gets a first-round bye because College of the Canyons dropped out of the field last month.

The tournament continues Monday and the semifinals are at 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday. The title game is at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

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Floor under repair: Irvine Valley has closed its gym until Jan. 10 so damage to the floor from rain last winter can be fixed.

The move will cause only a minimal amount of alteration to the schedule.

The men’s basketball game scheduled at Irvine Valley Monday was switched to Palomar and the men’s and women’s teams will open Orange Empire Conference play Jan. 6 at Golden West instead of at home.

Steve Kresal can be reached at (714) 966-5904 or by e-mail at steve.kresal@latimes.com.