Honkers' McIntire resigns

Yuba City High basketball coach Brad McIntire announced his resignation on Friday.

"It's just the right time for me personally and for the program," McIntire said. "As the season progressed, my son and wife were going to Mighty Mite basketball and I was going to a different practice. I can't get that time back."

McIntire's resignation comes after 17 years as head coach and two weeks after his team was knocked out of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs in a 76-71 loss to Woodcreek at Honker Gym.

"It's nothing he wanted to get away from; it was just a good time for his family," said Yuba City athletic director John Ithurburn.

McIntire noted that a strong junior class on top of a solid junior varsity team leaves the incoming coach with plenty of talent to work with.

"Who ever comes in behind me is going to have a very good group of juniors," McIntire said. "They should be able to win games and that's one less worry for that new coach."

He didn't know who that next coach would be.

"I don't know. I think the school and AD will make a good decision, though," he said. "I do know it's going to be hard for me not to coach that first year."

McIntire told his juniors first, which he said was the most difficult part, before reporting the news to Ithurburn.

"I told my juniors today. I spoke with them individually. That was the hardest part of the process," he said.

The coach noted the time and energy it took to put on the annual Mel Good Tournament, and also thanked all of the community members who have assisted him and the program throughout the years.

But it is the friendships of players and coaches that he holds most dear.

"Probably, one the biggest things I'll take with me is the lifelong relationships with players I've built over the years," McIntire said. "If I hadn't coached, I wouldn't have had the opportunities to make those relationships and be a part of their lives."

He referred to the 2008-09 team (23-5) as the best team he's ever had off the court and one of the top teams on it.

"I told the JV team to prove me wrong," he added.