Ground Leaves Tustin for College Job

Andy Ground, who coached boys’ basketball at Tustin High the last seven seasons, has resigned, Athletic Director Al Rosmino said Friday.

Ground, who left to become an assistant at Saddleback College, compiled a 154-49 record at Tustin, winning three league titles and reaching the Southern Section Division II-A title game in 1995. He was junior varsity coach for five seasons before taking over for Tom McCluskey in 1992.

“When you spend that much time at one place you sometimes need a change,” Ground said. “I’m looking forward to a new challenge.”

Ground, who indicated a month ago this might be his final season, had been a walk-on coach since 1996, when he left a teaching job at Tustin to work for the Orange County Dept. of Education.

The Tillers were 20-8 this season, runner-up in the Golden West League, and lost in the second round of the Division II-AA playoffs to Cerritos Gahr.