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Kerwin Walters is no longer coaching the girls basketball team at Sage Hill, the school confirmed Saturday.
Athletic director Megan Cid stated that Mike Farzley, an associate director of athletics at the school, will “step in as interim program head” just nine games into the season. Farzley, who has basketball coaching experience, will have two assistants to round out the coaching staff, Cid added.
“As a school, we cannot comment on specific personnel matters,” Cid said in an email. “We are grateful for coach Kerwin’s’ many years of leadership and success in the girls’ basketball program at Sage Hill, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
“We recognize that this is a big change, and we are committed to supporting our players and families throughout it,” she added. “Our focus remains on providing a positive, structured and competitive experience for our girls basketball team while maintaining continuity and care within the program.”
Walters, in his 14th season, said late Friday that he was asked to take an “administrative leave” for the season. He added that he didn’t see himself coaching the Sage Hill girls team for the “foreseeable future.”
Last season, Walters guided Sage Hill to the CIF Southern California Regional Division I title and a runner-up finish at the CIF State championships in Sacramento.
In 2022, he led the Lightning to an emotional Division II state title, the first in school history.
The 2022 team featured four players who played on Kobe Bryant’s Mambas youth team before the Lakers star and several others died in a helicopter crash in 2020.
“These things we do for them,” Walters said of the victims after a 51-47 victory against San Joaquin Memorial for the state title. “They’re here with us in mind, body and spirit.”
Walters was selected The Register’s O.C. coach of the year for the 2021-22 season.
Sage Hill’s current roster includes All-County guard Amalia Holguin, who was the youngest player on Bryant’s team. Now a senior, Holguin has signed with Texas for college.
Cid said Farzley will be assisted by Jethro Julian and Valeeta Perry, two assistants who worked with Walters.
Sage Hill (5-4) entered its game against Santa Margarita on Saturday night at the Maya Enomoto Memorial Showcase at Esperanza High ranked No. 4 in Orange County.
The Lightning fell two spots in the ranking after going 1-3 at the Troy Classic.
The previous week, Sage Hill placed second to three-time defending state Open Division champion Etiwanda at the Redondo tournament.
At the Troy tournament, Walters discussed the use of a new 3/4 court press and wrinkles to the front-course offense. He also mentioned the challenges for a team that returns all five starters from last season.
“I think the connectivity is getting back,” he said. “They go to club, they go to all their different things, and (they) have all these different teammates, and now we got to come back and kind of re-learn each other.”
Sage Hill is again playing a challenging nonleague schedule.
Next week, the team is scheduled to compete in the Joe Smith Division at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Mesa, Ariz.
After Christmas, Sage Hill heads to Portland for the Holiday Classic.
The program’s credentials and schedule have grown under Walters. The Lightning were in Division 5A for the playoffs in his first season.
News of Sage Hill’s coaching change generated reactions throughout Southern California girls basketball circles. Brentwood coach Charles Solomon posted his support of Walters on social media.
Just horrible. Kerwin a great person.
— Charles Solomon (@CoachSolomon2) December 13, 2025