Santa Ana boys basketball coach Fareed ElMasry resigns to spend more time with family

Santa Ana boys basketball coach Fareed ElMasry announced his resignation. (File photo: OC Sports Zone, Fernando M. Donado).

Long-time Santa Ana High School varsity boys basketball coach Fareed ElMasry announced his resignation on Tuesday, informing his players of the decision to step down and spend more time with his family.

He will continue to teach math at Santa Ana. ElMasry and his wife have a 6-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son.

ElMasry has been the Saints head coach for 13 years. He said his top highlights included the the first scholarship offer for a player (Damien Escoto, Holy Names University) in 2013, coaching his first Orange County all-star player (Adrian Cruz in 2016), four consecutive trips to the second round of the CIF playoffs and leading the Saints into the quarterfinal round of the playoffs this past season.

In what turned out to be his final game, Santa Ana lost to Villanova Prep 66-64 in the 5AA quarterfinals. The Saints finished the season with a 17-10 record.

Santa Ana placed second three out of four years in the Orange Coast Legue.

ElMasry, a popular and dedicated coach at Santa Ana, said there were lots of tears when he told players and coaches Tuesday.

“The boys from the barrio will always have a special place in my heart,” he said Tuesday night. “Maurice Aguilar was just as much a head coach as I was and I will cherish sharing a bench with him. Jose Valencia, Eduardo Segura and Jacob Cordova have been the most supportive coaching staff I’ve ever had. 

“So many people from Santa Ana to thank. Brian Lillie (athletic director), Cherisse Hernandez (athletic trainer), Luis Macias (equipment manager) and Luis (Chia) Aduna (tournament coordinator).”

No replacement has been named.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com