L.A. Times ladies’ basketball coach of the yr: Stan Delus of Etiwanda

There’s no debate in regards to the ladies’ basketball coach of the yr whenever you information your group to consecutive victories over nationally ranked La Jolla Country Day, Chatsworth Sierra Canyon and San Jose Archbishop Mitty to win the Open Division state championship. That’s what Stan Delus completed at Etiwanda to earn The Times’ ladies’ basketball coach of the yr award.

Except Delus did way more. He discovered a technique to hand Sierra Canyon its solely defeat, determining a protection to include participant of the yr Juju Watkins. He bought his star participant, Kennedy Smith, to reload for the state playoffs and play on the prime of her recreation. And he found out have his group overcome an eight-point deficit within the fourth quarter in Sacramento in opposition to top-of-the-line coaches in America.

All that and extra introduced respect to Delus, whose Eagles received the Southern Section Open Division title final season however misplaced to Sierra Canyon on this season’s last. The Eagles bought their revenge within the regional finals. Then got here a 69-67 victory over Mitty on a buzzer-beater, put-back basket from Jada Sanders.

As for what drives the Eagles, Delus mentioned, “Yes, we have a chip on our shoulder. And we’re going to have one next year, because I’m the coach. Period.”