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For the first time in almost a quarter of a century, EZ Panas will not be sitting on the bench for the Valley High School varsity boys basketball program.
Panas told the Journal on Thursday that he has been fired by the Vikings, with the new school year set to begin for students next week.
There were mixed messages about how Panas left.
Valley said Panas “has decided to take a short break from coaching.”
Panas disputed that suggestion and said no reason was given.
“I would never quit on my team three days before school starts,” he said via text message.
Panas said Valley’s new administration brought him in Wednesday morning and “was told the boys basketball position was gonna be opened up. It is what it is.”
Panas said Valley told him he could re-apply for the position if he desired.
The timeline for Valley is not ideal, coming so late in the offseason, and with many potential coaching candidates likely already having jobs lined up for the upcoming season.
Panas was a longtime assistant (17 seasons) to Joe Coleman before he ascended to the top spot in late 2020 after Coleman retired. This was smack in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no basketball that fall or winter. His first season as head coach was the pandemic-shortened 2021 season which didn’t begin until late March of that year.
Valley is coming off a very rare poor season, in which the Vikings finished 5-23.
Panas took the Vikings into the Class 4A state championship game just two years ago, a one-point loss to Highland.
“We had one hell of a run,” Panas said. “I’m super proud of what we accomplished and what our program has stood for. … Valley will always have a special place in my heart.”
James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at [email protected] or via X at @JamesDYodice.
Continue reading...
Panas told the Journal on Thursday that he has been fired by the Vikings, with the new school year set to begin for students next week.
There were mixed messages about how Panas left.
Valley said Panas “has decided to take a short break from coaching.”
Panas disputed that suggestion and said no reason was given.
“I would never quit on my team three days before school starts,” he said via text message.
Panas said Valley’s new administration brought him in Wednesday morning and “was told the boys basketball position was gonna be opened up. It is what it is.”
Panas said Valley told him he could re-apply for the position if he desired.
The timeline for Valley is not ideal, coming so late in the offseason, and with many potential coaching candidates likely already having jobs lined up for the upcoming season.
Panas was a longtime assistant (17 seasons) to Joe Coleman before he ascended to the top spot in late 2020 after Coleman retired. This was smack in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no basketball that fall or winter. His first season as head coach was the pandemic-shortened 2021 season which didn’t begin until late March of that year.
Valley is coming off a very rare poor season, in which the Vikings finished 5-23.
Panas took the Vikings into the Class 4A state championship game just two years ago, a one-point loss to Highland.
“We had one hell of a run,” Panas said. “I’m super proud of what we accomplished and what our program has stood for. … Valley will always have a special place in my heart.”
James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at [email protected] or via X at @JamesDYodice.
Continue reading...
