On the fall league hoops circuit, rumors have swirled about the next move for former Hoover of San Diego coach Ollie Goulston, who resigned last month after winning a school-record 31 games last season with an underclass-dominated club.
One rumor had Goulston starting his own program. Another had him taking over the new Balboa Prep, where presumably he was going to coach a slew of talented newcomers. One of the newcomers was supposed to be 6-foot-10 DeAndre Ayton, not only the best incoming freshman in San Diego County, but perhaps the entire country.
Goulston put the rumors to rest.
“I’m taking the season off so I can figure out the next stage of my life,” said Goulston, who compiled a 255-82 record and led the Cardinals to four CIF San Diego Section titles in his 10 years at the helm. “I had too many issues and it was time to move on.”
Two things are certain about this upcoming basketball season — Goulston won’t coach at the high school level and Hoover will have an excellent team. Six of the top seven players are back, including senior guards Damonte Holiday (5-10) and Miles Nolen-Webb (6-0) and talented junior Jordan Alexander (6-4).
With Goulston, Hoover was penciled in as a top 20 team in the CalHiSports.com preseason state rankings (scheduled for release early November), but even without their veteran coach the Cardinals will be in the mix with El Camino of Oceanside and La Costa Canyon for San Diego’s No. 1 ranking.
According to Goulston, the team will remain intact.
“They were naturally disappointed (when I resigned), but they are tough players and the two seniors (Holiday and Nolen-Webb) are good leaders.
“I think them and El Camino are No. 1 and No. 2 in the section.”
