Zach Johnson selected as new boys basketball coach at Santa Ana High School

Zach Johnson will take over as boys basketball coach for Santa Ana. (Photo courtesy Northwood basketball).

Zach Johnson, who has been a head coach at Foothill and Northwood high schools, has been named the new Santa Ana boys basketball coach, Athletic Director Brian Lillie said Wednesday.

Johnson replaces long-time coach Fareed ElMasry, who resigned to spend more time with his family. ElMasry, who coached the Saints for 13 years, is continuing to teach at Santa Ana High School.

“The main goal is to create a culture of trust and accountability then all the rest will fall into place,” Johnson said. “Really excited to get started.”

Johnson most recently was an assistant coach at Westminster High School. In the 2020-21 season, he was the interim head coach at Northwood, taking over for legendary coach Tim O’Brien after O’Brien’s death.

Johnson was an associate head coach with O’Brien at Northwood from 2020-21. From 2016 to 2019, Johnson coached at Foothill and was the Knights head coach from 2017 to 2019.

Before that, Johnson coached at Pima Community College, was an assistant coach at Orange and an assistant coach at Agua Fria High School in Avondale, Ariz.

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