Steve Snodgress reflects on coaching alma mater

There’s been a model of stability among the coaching ranks involving the Glendale High boys’ basketball program.

Since the start of the 1977-78 season, the Nitros have had just three coaches roam the sidelines. In that stretch, the Nitros won two CIF Southern Section championships and numerous Pacific League titles. Those who took turns calling the shots from the bench for nearly 40 years have been Steve Keith, Bob Davidson and Steve Snodgress, who announced Monday that he will be stepping down at the end of the season after retaining the position the last 19 seasons.

With the Nitros (15-11, 11-3 in league for second place) set to participate in the CIF Southern Section Division I-A playoffs next week, Snodgress said the timing was right to announce his resignation.

“It had been a couple of years coming where I had a gut feeling I would hang it up,” said Snodgress, a Glendale native and Glendale High graduate who played guard for two seasons from 1971-73. “I got to coach my son, Andrew, a few years back, and retiring from coaching was something that had been in the back of my mind. It’s been a great run being involved with coaching for such a long time.”

Snodgress, 59, said he will continue to teach economics and United States government classes at Glendale.

Snodgress, who is 209-290, has been affiliated with the basketball program since he played under the tutelage of coach Bill Westphal. After moving on to play at Santa Ana College and then Occidental College, Snodgress came back to Glendale and coached the sophomore team for several seasons and served as an assistant varsity coach, along with Davidson, under Keith from 1979-81. The Nitros enjoyed quite an ascension, with the crowning moment coming in the form of a CIF Division II-A title in 1981.

“I learned so many things along the way from Steve and Bob,” Snodgress said. “They helped pave the way for me in terms of learning different aspects of the game from a coaching standpoint, along with how to run practices.

“That was such a magical time being able to work alongside those two guys. It’s been a pleasure to coach at Glendale with its rich history.”

Snodgress left the coaching business before coming back to Glendale to serve as an assistant under Davidson from 1993-96. Keith, a Burbank High graduate and former Cal State Northridge men’s basketball player who also led Glendale to a Division IV-A title in 1985, turned the head coaching responsibilities over to Davidson in 1987.

Keith, who now resides in Orange County, said Snodgress was eager to learn the coaching ropes when he came on board.

“He had already been quite a player,” Keith said. “He was just a young player out of Occidental and you could see how creative he was that it even made me expand my horizons.

“The chemistry that Steve, Bob and I had and continue to have to this day is amazing. To have a program have only three coaches in the last 38 years is a true mark of stability.”

Davidson, who served as head coach from 1987-96 and now coaches the school’s boys’ and girls’ tennis teams, said he had confidence Snodgress could handle the head coaching chores.

“He had been with me for a few years and I couldn’t have been any happier,” Davidson said. “He’s got a way of helping make the kids better players.

“He’s put in countless hours. Everybody has an idea of when it’s the right time to move on because nobody does it forever.”

Snodgress had an inkling the 2014-15 season would feature some highlights, though things weren’t smooth coming out of the starting gate.

The senior-laden Nitros hit a rough patch with a 2-7 start, before turning things around entering league play in January. One of the team’s biggest moments came Jan. 27 during a Pacific League road game against Burroughs. The Nitros trailed by 22 points early in the fourth quarter to force overtime en route to a 76-68 victory. Glendale, ranked 13th in the division, swept both head-to-head matchups against cross-town rival Hoover and finished one game behind Pasadena in league.

Alex Miralis, a senior forward, said he recalled Snodgress telling the players to stay patient leading up to Glendale’s comeback against Burroughs.

“That was such a huge game for us mentally,” Miralis said. “He told us that he had confidence in our ability and we were able to come back.

“The one thing with our team is that we have everybody involved out there on the court. Not just one player. For me, it’s a shock that he’s stepping down. I was speechless at first, but he felt like it’s the right time.”

Snodgress, along with assistant coaches Tadeh Mardirosian, Ib Belou and Mike Gayle, have begun to make preparations on the next chapter of the season.

The playoff pairings will be unveiled Sunday and the first round will begin Wednesday.

“It’s been one of our better seasons in some time, at all three levels,” Snodgress said. “There’s something special about being a part of the playoffs.

“When it’s time to look back, I will know it’s been a privilege to coach here at Glendale.”