One of state's winningest girls hoop coaches resigns at Sacred Heart Cathedral, which in 2008 had the No. 1 team in the nation. He leaves just three wins shy of 600th milestone victory.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

After 28 years, the last 19 at San Francisco's Sacred Heart Cathedral, California girls basketball coaching legend Brian Harrigan has decided to change gears. He announced on Tuesday he would be resigning his post at Sacred Heart Cathedral, but told CalHiSports.com on Wednesday that he could return to coaching at a later date.

"A lot of people don't realize or forget how long it's been,” said Harrigan, who began his career in 1981 as a 23-year-old girls coach at the old St. Rose Academy in San Francisco.

What a lot of people also don't realize is if St. Rose had not been forced to close after suffering irreparable damage in the 1989 San Francisco earthquake that also halted the Bay Bridge World Series, the affable Harrigan may never have landed a mile west at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

He did, and the rest is history.

Harrigan leaves behind a legacy of four CIF state championship teams, six Northern Regional titles, 10 consecutive Central Coast Section crowns, and a 597-174 record for the 2006 State Coach of the Year, and the 2009 National High School Coaches Association Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. His 2008 team was also named State Team of the Year.

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