Catching up with: Bill Reynolds

Tony Altobelli

Bill Reynolds stressed a “family” type of atmosphere when coaching

men’s basketball at Southern California College, now known as Vanguard

University.

Now, Reynolds sits in the stands like a proud papa watching 10 former

players and assistant coaches carry the reins for various schools

throughout Southern California.

“It is, without a doubt, the biggest reward any coach can receive,

watching your players become coaches,” Reynolds said. “It shows everyone

just what type of people they are. They were mature, professional kids at

SCC and that carried over to now.”

Among those on the coaching roster include Newport Harbor boys

basketball coach Larry Hirst, who has nothing but fond, if not

humorously-altered, flashbacks from his tenure with Reynolds, both as a

player and assistant coach.

“I was his whipping boy as a player,” Hirst said, almost with a

straight face. “Sure, some other player’s guy scored 15 straight points

on him, but he always ripped on me because he knew I could take it.”

On a much more serious note, Hirst has since organized a tournament

with some teams coached by former Reynolds players for the Bill Reynolds

Classic. Games are played at Newport Harbor, with the championship played

at Vanguard.

“It’s great because I’m still around to see it,” Reynolds said with a

laugh. “Fortunately, it’s not the Bill Reynolds Memorial Classic just

yet. I was floored when they told me about the tournament. What an

honor.”

Far from the fourth quarter of life, Reynolds has stepped down from

coaching to dedicate more time to his family and his “real” job of

counseling at Bolsa Grande High.

“I’m trying to make up some of the lost time with my wife, kids and

grand kids,” Reynolds said. “I’ve got three daughters and five

grandchildren and they’re all with an hour of where I live, so I can see

them all the time.”

Reynolds spent 31 seasons as a coach for Vanguard University, Bolsa

Grande and La Quinta. At VU, Reynolds compiled a 354-184 record with

three Golden State Athletic Conference titles and one District 3 title.

In his 17 seasons at VU, his teams reached the postseason each season.

“Starting off, I went to just about every coaches clinic and camp I

could think of,” Reynolds said. “I acquired a lot of information, but I

was trying to coach like someone else. My advice to any new coach is to

be yourself. Coach to your personality and the players will respond and

relate better.”

One guy who Reynolds really related to was Hirst. “Apparently, he

didn’t rip on me too bad, because I became his assistant coach and I

named a tournament after him,” Hirst said. “He’s an unbelievable guy. I

wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for him”

Making his coaches’ SoCal tour helps feed his love for the game and

perhaps a return to the bench is in Reynolds’ future.

“After I retire and some program wants to bring a grizzled veteran

coach in at some capacity, whether it’s as a head coach or assistant or

whatever, I’d consider it,” Reynolds said. “Going to the games fills my

basketball void. It helps me sleep better at night. But I still have that

fire in me and if that’s still in me when I retire from Bolsa Grande, who

knows?”

CURRENT COACHES WHO PLAYED OR COACHED UNDER REYNOLDS

Larry Hirst - Newport Harbor

Elbert Davis - Corona del Mar

Todd Dixon - El Toro

Andre Smith - La Sierra

Mike Murphy - Sonora

Randy McAllister - Rancho Verde

Mike West - Fallbrook

Ollie Martin - Mater Dei

Barry Silvers - Morro Bay

Mike Roberts - Tarbut V’Torah