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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No. 1 pick Strasburg is not the only top 10 pick from San Diego in this year's selections. California also is second to none in this draft with 12 picked out of the first 44, which is more than 25 percent.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor

It was another banner year for California prep baseball players and former California prep baseball players in Tuesday's Major League Baseball Draft, held in Secaucus, New Jersey.

It began immediately as Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State became the third No. 1 overall pick from San Diego in the last 10 years. By the time the first round was complete, eight of the 32 selections were Californians. Four more went by the 44th choice in the supplemental phase of the first round.

Stephen attended West Hills High of Santee before he went to SDSU. He had been projected to be the No. 1 pick for several months and was chosen by the Washington Nationals.

In 2004, Matt Bush from Mission Bay High School was the No. 1 overall pick by the hometown San Diego Padres. He has yet to play in the major leagues.

In 2000, Adrian Gonzalez from Eastlake High School of Chula Vista was the No. 1 overall pick. Adrian, of course, has played in the majors and currently leads the major leagues in home runs for the Padres. He was picked after high school by the Florida Marlins.

Another top 10 pick in this year's draft from San Diego is pitcher Mike Leake. The Arizona State player was tabbed at No. 8 by the Cincinnati Reds and is from Fallbrook High.

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