Valley to Move Michelson to Men’s Post

Doug Michelson, the women’s basketball coach at Valley College, will take over the men’s program at the school, and assistant John Taylor will replace Michelson as the women’s coach, it was announced Wednesday.

Michelson will replace Jim Stephens, who said last month he would resign at the end of the season.

Michelson, a full-time teacher at Hart High, has a 170-28 record at Valley in six seasons, including a 15-4 mark this season.

The Monarchs have advanced to two state championship finals under Michelson and twice have been semifinalists.

Taylor, 30, has been an assistant under Michelson the past five seasons.

Chuck Ferrero, athletic director at Valley, offered the men’s job to Michelson last summer after Stephens decided to leave but Michelson turned it down.

He changed his mind in recent weeks, however, and informed Ferrero on Monday that he was interested in the job.

“I’m extremely pleased to make these announcements,” Ferrero said, “because both of these people are so well qualified for the job.”

Joe Jackson, in his second season as a men’s assistant, will retain that position under Michelson, and first-year assistant Sandrine Rocher will remain with the women’s program.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity,” Taylor said. “I’m definitely ready to move up to the next level.”

Taylor, a teacher at Manzanita Elementary School in Palmdale, played for Michelson at Poly High from 1978 to 1980 and at Pierce College during the ‘80-81 season.