EZ Panas, the long-time head coach of the Valley High School varsity boys basketball program, has been fired by the Vikings. According to Panas himself, he was told the boys basketball position was being opened up by the school's new administration on Wednesday morning.
Panas, who had been an assistant coach for 17 seasons before taking the top spot in 2020, had led the team to the Class 4A state championship game just two years ago, where they suffered a one-point loss to Highland. Despite this setback, Panas expressed pride in what the team had accomplished and the program's values.
The timing of Panas's departure is not ideal, coming so late in the offseason. With many potential coaching candidates likely already having jobs lined up for the upcoming season, the school faces a challenging task in finding a suitable replacement.
Panas disputed the school's statement that he had decided to take a short break from coaching. "I would never quit on my team three days before school starts," he said via text message. Panas also stated that no reason was given for his termination.
The Valley High School boys basketball program has had a tumultuous past year, finishing with a 5-23 record. This marks a rare poor season for the team. It remains to be seen how the school will move forward in the wake of Panas's departure.
Panas's tenure as head coach was marked by a pandemic-shortened 2021 season, which began in late March of that year. Despite these challenges, he led the team to a remarkable run, which included a trip to the state championship game.
The future of the Valley High School boys basketball program hangs in the balance, as the school searches for a new head coach to replace Panas. The search is expected to be a challenging one, given the late timing and the potential candidates already committed to other teams.
Source: Yahoo Sports