San Clemente Football Coach McElroy Becomes Wordsmith

San Clemente football Coach Mark McElroy, who turned 38 two weeks ago, made a promise to himself to write a book by the time he turned 40. Last May, he completed “Coaching The No-Huddle Offense,” an instructional guide on the system popularized by Florida State and the Buffalo Bills.

“The audience I wrote it toward was high school coaches,” McElroy said. “But I think it would give most people a clear understanding of how it works. No matter what offensive scheme you run--a wing-T, pro style, single-back-four-receiver set--you could adapt a no-huddle system to gain an advantage.”

McElroy said he got the incentive for the book last year at a coaching clinic in San Francisco. While talking with an exhibitor for Sagamore Publishing in Champaign, Ill., which publishes instructional and biographical sports books, McElroy learned the company was seeking an author for a book on the no-huddle offense. McElroy volunteered, received a contract and wrote the book in three months.

The book costs $16.95 and can be ordered at (800) 327-5557.

*

Everyone in the Garden Grove League knows about Bolsa Grande shooting guard Duc Nguyen (18.9 points per game).

But the addition of sophomore center Jon James has added an extra dimension to the boys’ basketball title chase. James is averaging 19.8 points and he has thrust the Matadors into the Garden Grove League title chase.

*

Given Saturday’s successful debut at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, Long Beach StingRays General Manager Bill McGillis said prep basketball fans can expect at least one high school doubleheader before a StingRays game next year too.

“For sure,” said McGillis, whose American Basketball League women’s team drew a season-high 6,006 after two prep games and a youth clinic.

Staff writers Martin Henderson and Paul McLeod contributed to this notebook.