Bell-Jeff Basketball Coach to Quit

Citing frustration with the athletes and athletic department at Bell-Jeff High, basketball Coach Steve Wahl said Monday he will not coach at the school after this season. Wahl resigned as the school’s baseball coach in December.

“There is a difference in philosophy with me and the school and particularly the athletic department,” said Wahl, whose team is 9-13. “I’m a little disillusioned with Bell-Jeff athletes. I think I’m working harder than they are, and that’s wrong. You get to that point and you have to hang it up.”

Wahl has kicked two basketball players off the team, two others have quit, and three starters--Dave Matekel, Anthony Couch and Mike Reyes--were ruled academically ineligible Monday. Of the 14 players Wahl began the season with, six remain.

Wahl, 42, has coached basketball, tennis and baseball at various times for the past eight years at Bell-Jeff.