After three successful seasons, including a historic run, La Cañada High School girls’ basketball coach Sarah Beattie resigned from her post last week.
Beattie, who will continue to teach government and economics and psychology at the school, said that the extra time will allow her to focus on her classes and help LCHS in other areas.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” she said. “It came down to a lot of contemplation and prayer and thinking about what I wanted my near future and future to look like.
“I am trying to free up some space in my life so I can concentrate more on the classes that I teach and also have a bit more time for myself in my personal life. It also makes room for me to give back to the school in other ways and reach more students in different capacities.”
LCHS Dean of Athletics Kristina Kalb supports Beattie’s decision, and hopes to have her successor hired by May 1.
“I’m always going to support my coaches in whatever it is their life goals are,” said Kalb, who encourages anyone interested in the position to email her. “As an educator, I understand the passion for the classroom and wanting to dive deeper into the curriculum and having down time. Basketball at La Cañada, as well as other schools, is a year-round deal. Sometimes one just needs to take a step away. She’s done a lot of great things the last three years and has taken the program to new heights.”
Beattie was an assistant coach for legendary boys’ basketball coach Tom Hofman before taking over the girls’ program in the summer of 2015. She made an immediate impact and guided the Spartans to their greatest season two years ago. La Cañada played in CIF Southern Section and CIF State Southern Regional championship games for the first time. Antelope Valley defeated the Spartans in both contests.
La Cañada was 75-16 under Beattie, including a perfect 30-0 in Rio Hondo League contests.
“For me it was more about the relationships I was able to form with the players,” she said. “It was about teaching them not only basketball skills but how to persevere when times are hard, having fun and working together. Those were much more meaningful aspects to coaching. That’s my highlight.”
Beattie previously played for La Cañada under former coach Tamar Hill and graduated from the school in 2004. She said her resignation is not permanent and considers it “a break” from coaching.
“I definitely hope to coach again at some point,” Beattie said. “I don’t know when that will be yet. I still love coaching, the sport and the kids. I just feel this decision is what’s best for me in the long run.”
