Girls’ basketball: Wiard steps down for a season to focus on studies

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Richard Wiard, who has won more than 400 basketball games as a coach and guided Bishop Amat to four consecutive state championship games and two state titles, said ‘it is the right time’ to take a year-long sabbatical from coaching and focus on getting a second Masters degree from Azusa Pacifica.

Wiard, 43, is working toward an Administration credential. The basketball program, which won state titles in 2005 and 2006, will be under the direction of his assistant, Chris Morrison.

‘I will not be there,’ Wiard said. ‘That’s not fair to Chris. If you’re not at practice, you shouldn’t be making those decisions in games. I’m not even sure I’ll have time for the games.’

Wiard’s overall record as a head coach, including four years of coaching boys, is 403-107. Over the last 13 seasons with the Bishop Amat girls, his record is 346-65. The Lancers reached the Division III state finals in 2004, ‘05, ’06 and ’07.

‘I’m sure I’m going to miss coaching,’ Wiard said. ‘Heck, I already miss it, but I’m doing school work right now. I’ve done this for 26 years in a row. It’s all right to try something else.’

Even though the program loses Kristen McCarthy, the cupboard is hardly bare for Morrison. Starting junior guards Katie Moreno and Morgann Elliss and sophomore Ashley Carter will return, along with the first forward off the bench, Arielle Wideman.

For more comments about Wiard, check out Fred Robledo’s thoughts.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.bishopamat.org