Corona resident Rob Alexander caught some fish on a recent 2½-day trip to southern Mexico, then landed an even bigger prize when he returned.
Late last week it was announced Alexander has been hired as the boys basketball coach at Oak Hills.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Alexander said. “I taught there last (season) and connected well with the administrative team and I feel comfortable there.”
Alexander takes over a program that last season finished second in the Mojave River League and went 22-7 overall with Shaun Mora as head coach. The Bulldogs advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division 4AA quarterfinals.
A release announcing Alexander’s hiring did not explain why Mora was replaced.
Asked about Alexander’s hiring and why Mora is no longer the coach, Oak Hills Vice Principal of Athletics Shawn Yancey wrote in an email, “Robert Alexander is a great fit and I am confident he will pick up where coach Mora left off.”
Alexander has been coaching for more than 25 years, dating back to when he coached Ontario in the early 1990s. He led Ontario to a Mt. Baldy League title (1993-94).
He went on to become the head coach at Canyon Country Canyon and Santiago high schools and an assistant at Centennial and Oak Hills, Chaffey College and USC. He also was a grad assistant at Texas Christian University.
Alexander hopes a tenacious defense will help Oak Hills capture the Mojave River League title.
“We’ll be defensive oriented and will try to take people out of what they like to do,” Alexander said. “We want to create turnovers and disrupt offenses and fastbreak and then share the ball in transition.”
Alexander’s wife Dianne is an administrator at an elementary school in the Corona-Norco Unified School District and the couple has four children.
Miller making changes to school mascot
Miller High is making changes to its “Rebels” mascot and might choose a new mascot, according to principal Dustin Saxton.
In a release last week, Saxton wrote: “Effective immediately, our school administration, with the support of Fontana Unified School District’s Superintendent’s office, has opted to remove all images of the mascot and Rebel Nation from not only the campus, but anywhere else it may be seen either online or in person.
“We have also removed images of the mascot from our website and social media pages and are in the process of reviewing potential replacements to this imagery to be discussed further with our students and staff to ensure a mascot is selected that better represents who we are at AB Miller High School.”
Saxton stopped short of saying Miller would completely ditch the “Rebels” nickname at this time.
Quartz Hill recently announced it has dropped “Rebels” as its mascot.
The terms “Rebels” or “Rebs” were often used to describe Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.
Upland looking for an athletic director
Upland is looking for an athletic director to replace John McNally, who held the position the past six years.
“I’m going to go back and coach and teach,” McNally said Monday morning. “I’m looking at coaching a few different sports.”
McNally previously coached basketball at Fontana and Upland.
Ontario Christian volleyball nabs USA Today honor
The Ontario Christian girls volleyball team added another honor last week.
The Knights were named the USA Today’s Fan Favorite Team of the Year for the greater Los Angeles area.
The team was honored during the virtual USA Today High School Sports Awards show.
The Knights won their second consecutive CIF-SS and state championships in 2019-2020.
Ontario Christian players gathered at the home of Peyton Tazelaar, who recently graduated, to watch the show and screamed in delight when they were announced as winners.
The live streamed awards show mentioned the Knights’ supporters who “packed the stands wherever they went.”
“It was the first time we’ve gotten it, so it was pretty cool,” Ontario Christian coach Paige Liebhart said. “It was a star-studded event with people like Misty May-Treanor, Drew Brees, Bill Belichick and Patrick Mahomes announcing the winners. I’m glad we had our community’s backing, with everyone voting for us.”
Ontario Christian was also nominated for USA Today’s Team of the Year honor but didn’t win.
Claremont’s Maddie Coles was named the USA Today greater L.A. area girls cross country athlete of the year; and Upland’s Justin Flowe was named the area’s football defensive player of the year.
McTyer is interim coach for Adelanto football
Tim McTyer, the defensive coordinator for Adelanto’s football team the past two seasons, is now the team’s interim coach, said Adelanto athletic director Brandon Mikkelson.
McTyer replaces Ghalee Wadood, who resigned after last season to spend more time with his family.
McTyer is a former NFL player who went to grade school in Los Angeles with Wadood.
The Victor Valley Union High School District will not allow the school to open the football job yet, but McTyer will apply for it when it’s open, Mikkelson said.
Chino Hills grad honored
Chino Hills High graduate Alexis Cardoza recently picked up a big honor. The Cal State San Bernardino star volleyball player was named the 2019-2020 California Collegiate Athletic Association Female Athlete of the Year.
Cardoza averaged 5.17 points per set (third in the nation) and had 326 digs, 59 blocks and 37 aces.
Joshua Springs Christian a state academic champ
The Joshua Springs Christian girls volleyball team was recently named a CIF State academic champion for the 2019-2020 school year. The team recorded a 4.0 grade point average.
Joshua Springs Christian was one of 16 teams honored and will receive a banner commemorating the feat.
John Murphy may be reached at berdooman@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @PrepCat.