Magnolia Basketball Coach Walin Quits

Less than an hour after informing the Magnolia administration that he was returning for his 28th season as boys’ basketball coach, Al Walin on Monday was blindsided by the news that Geoffrey Clayton, his star player, would not be allowed to return for his senior season.

Clayton, a Times’ Orange County first-team point guard who averaged 23.6 points last season, was the primary reason that Walin had decided to return.

Shaken by the news, Walin announced his resignation Tuesday, saying that his decision was prompted by a combination of factors, including Clayton’s dismissal from school.

“It was agonizing,” Walin said. “I actually thought I was going to be back and then I changed my mind. The timing of the whole thing was horrendous. The Clayton situation didn’t help anything, but the thoughts [of leaving] were in my mind beforehand. I said, ‘Enough is enough.’ ”

Clayton’s status is unclear. Walin said the 6-foot-3 guard had been removed from school Monday because of disciplinary matters and could not attend a school in the Anaheim Union High School District next year. Southern Section rules regarding disciplinary matters could also preclude Clayton from maintaining athletic eligibility at another school, Walin said.

Dave Cowen, Magnolia’s vice principal in charge of athletics, declined to comment on Clayton’s status.

Reached at home Tuesday night, Clayton said he was unaware of any disciplinary action taken against him, though he had not spoken with his father, who attended a meeting with school officials earlier in the day. Clayton added that he had never gotten into serious trouble at school.

“I don’t think I’m going back there, that’s all I know,” he said.

Walin, 62, has a career record of 401-380. He said he had been mulling his future for “quite a while” and thought about leaving even though Clayton was coming back for one more season. The rigors of staying competitive in an era of open enrollment were becoming burdensome, Walin said.

But his desire to return was stoked Sunday when he saw Clayton deliver a standout performance in an off-season game. “My assistants and my wife and I decided, ‘OK, we’re going to go one more year,’ ” Walin said. Less than 48 hours later, Walin was gone.

“It’s a major loss for Magnolia,” Athletic Director Bob Rishel said. “I was sure hoping that he would go another year. He has taken a lot of kids that were average players and made good players out of them. I know he’s going to be sorely missed.”

Walin said he was sad to leave the program that he put on solid footing. The Sentinels won five Orange League titles under his direction and qualified for the playoffs the last 11 years. This year’s team finished 14-14, 5-5 in the Orange League.

“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into it,” Walin said. “We have built this up to a [high-profile] situation where we’re respected throughout the county. I’ve had a lot of relationships that I’m going to miss.”

Walin said he is evaluating whether he will return as a teacher.