McClurg: Parents Partly to Blame

While directing the girls’ basketball program at Calvary Chapel, Russell McClurg took the Eagles to the Southern Section finals the last three seasons. They won the Division IV-A title in 1999 and reached the state championship game.

So it’s notable that McClurg, who admittedly wanted to move on to a larger school, said last week that parents factored into his decision to leave.

“There were some good parents, but I didn’t feel like the parent support was totally right on,” said McClurg, who compiled a 106-59 record in six seasons. “I heard some negative stuff after the season was over. Every year I contemplate what I’m going to do, and it caught me in one of those moods where I was fed up.”

There were complaints accusing McClurg of stubbornness, lack of sensitivity and poor communication, officials said.

“We have a lot of high-maintenance people, and as a Christian school, people expect a lot out of our staff,” said school superintendent Dave Rolph, who will be the high school’s principal next year.

“[McClurg] hasn’t done anything for me to say, ‘You’re never coming back.’ He didn’t do anything that would have caused him many problems at another school, it’s just that [here], people expect more,” Rolph said.

McClurg’s departure was met with mixed emotions.

“Russ was a great coach,” said point guard Ashley Nelson, who will be a senior. “There were some players who didn’t think that way, but he knew what to do. He took us to three CIF championship games. What more could you want?”

Calvary Chapel was 19-9, took second in the Olympic League and played for a section title. Yet, in McClurg’s estimation, he was effectively run off by parents.

McClurg, 30, also coaches the NJB Stars 13-and-under team. He will take a year off or try to assist at a larger school.

“I definitely want to go on to either Division I or II,” he said. “Pete Bonny [who did not coach last year after coaching Marina for 10 seasons] is going to help Troy this year, and I’d like to do that somewhere. And if not, I’ll take a year off and enjoy it.

“It was really fun coaching there. There are a lot of people I’m going to miss.”

AROUND THE DIAMOND

Another coach who resigned from a successful program after six seasons was Rhonda Weyer, the El Modena softball coach. She did so for health reasons; she has a recurring cyst on her neck.

“I would like to [continue coaching], but at this point, I have to put it on hold,” Weyer said. “It’s a young team, very talented. It’s hard to walk away from a team like that.”

El Modena, which had no seniors, was 20-9 last season.

* Fountain Valley, which put together one of the county’s best softball tournaments the last six years, is out of the tournament business. Coach Cary Baker will not continue the event, which was usually held on back-to-back weekends. Instead, Foothill will try its hand at hosting a tournament using the same format.

“We really want some top-notch teams so that everyone gets four real competitive games,” Coach Joe Gonzalez said.

Schools that already have committed to the 16-team event are Mater Dei, Pacifica, Aliso Niguel, Marina, Los Alamitos and Newhall Hart.

SUMMER TOURNAMENTS

* Southern California boys’ and girls’ qualifiers are participating this week in the Snickers U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championship in Pleasanton. The tournament began Monday; it ends Saturday at the Pleasanton Sports and Recreation Park. County teams vying for boys’ titles are the Irvine Strikers (U-19) and the Wolfpack (U-18) of Huntington Beach. Girls’ teams participating are the Mission Viejo Soccer Club Magic (U-17), Southern California Blues (U-16, U-13) of Dana Point, the Slammers (U-15, U-14) of Newport Beach and West Coast Premier (U-12) of Mission Viejo.

* An ASA National Qualifier for 18-under Gold softball teams is Friday through Sunday at Columbus Tustin Park in Tustin. First games begin at 3:30 p.m.

* One of the better girls’ basketball tournaments this summer, the Tournament of Champions at Vanguard University, begins Thursday. Peninsula and Mater Dei could meet in the second round, while the San Clemente-Laguna Hills winner will face the Rosary-Edison winner. Esperanza, which should be one of the top teams next season, is also entered.

* The Brea Summer League for girls’ varsity and junior varsity basketball begins today. Games are played Tuesdays and Thursdays.

If you have an item or idea for the high school/club report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at ben.bolch@latimes.com or martin.henderson@latimes.com