Costa Girls Basketball Coach Resigns

Mira Costa High School girls basketball coach Craig Takahashi resigned last week in what Principal Ben Dale has described as personal reasons, but some parents allege otherwise.

Takahashi was in his seventh season with the Mustangs serving six as an assistant under former Coach Don Braunecker before taking over the head coaching reins last season.

The pair combined to turn Mira Costa into a powerhouse, winning three straight Bay League titles (2008, 2009, 2010). The team was the 2008 CIF Div. 1 State runner-up and the 2007 CIF-SS Div. 1-A runner-up with an overall record of 117-41.

Takahashi finished with an overall record of 18-10 last season while going 8-2 in the rough and tumble Bay League.

But now "Coach Takahashi is no longer with the program," Dale said. "We would like to thank him for all the hard work that he has done for the students and the program and wish him well in the future."

Several sources who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue told Patch following Takahashi's departure that he was forced to resign because of an alleged text message he sent to a player, who was later cut from the team, that included the N-word in the text.

The alleged text was said to have been sent several months ago but rumored to have only been brought up after the student was cut from the team. In response to Takahashi's resignation, all of the other coaches in the program have stepped down in support of him.

Manhattan Beach resident Steve Radl, whose 12- and 14-year-old daughters have played club basketball for Takahashi for several years, said, "Craig is not a racist."

Like other parents of girl basketball players who have played for Takahashi, Radl told Patch some parents may be concerned that out-of-district students who make the team are taking the spots of in-district students who want to play.

Takahashi did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.

"I think the rumors surrounding Coach Takahashi are unfair," Dale said when asked about the alleged text message. "This is a personnel matter, and all I can say is that Coach Takahashi stepped down for personal reasons, so that he may spend more time with his family."

With the start of the season just weeks away, the Mustangs are now scrambling to find a replacement coach with practice slated to start Nov. 12.

"We are actively looking for a quick replacement for this season and then we will reevaluate the situation again at the end of the season," Dale said.

This isn’t the first time controversy has surrounded Dale and Mustangs basketball. Last season, just hours before a game against rival Redondo Union when he was reportedly informed by Principal Dale that he would not be welcomed back after the season.

Myar served 22 seasons as coach. The next week he came back to finish the rest of the season, and in May the school hired longtime assistant Jeff Amaral to take over the program.

— Liz Spear contributed to this report.