Del Oro girls basketball coach Farooq resigns

The Del Oro High School girls basketball program is once again facing a change at the top. Varsity head coach Amir Farooq and his coaching staff have resigned, the school's administration confirmed in an email sent to players and families. The resignation marks the third head coaching change for Del Oro girls basketball in three seasons and the second within the last calendar year, underscoring a period of continued turnover. In the email, Del Oro administration and the athletic department thanked Coach Farooq and his staff for their time and dedication, citing their support of student-athletes and contributions to the program. "We want to acknowledge Coach Farooq and his coaching staff for their time and commitment to our program over several years, including this season," the statement read. "They have supported our student-athletes and contributed to their growth, and we are grateful for their service to Del Oro Basketball." This is the latest in a series of notable coaching moves at Del Oro following successful seasons across multiple sports. After last season, girls basketball coach MJ Masys stepped down after one season despite the team finishing in the top three in the Sierra Foothill League. In December 2023, football coach Mike Maben was dismissed after leading the Golden Eagles to back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section semifinal appearances. Most recently, baseball coach Jordan Whitmore was removed following a section championship season, a decision that drew questions within the Del Oro community. School officials did not provide details regarding the circumstances of Farooq's resignation but reiterated their commitment to maintaining a positive, structured and supportive environment for student-athletes across all levels of the program. In a statement shared after his departure, Farooq praised his players and staff. He said the group "built strong chemistry" and competed at a high level in a short amount of time, crediting the coaching staff for the hours spent developing the program and establishing a positive culture. Farooq added that his decision to step away came after it became clear that the staff and the school were "no longer aligned moving forward" due to circumstances outside of basketball. "This was not how I envisioned this chapter ending," he wrote, while expressing gratitude for the opportunity to coach the team and wishing the players continued success the rest of the season and beyond. Del Oro has not announced an interim coach or a timeline for filling the varsity girls basketball position. The Lady Eagles were 7-1 under Faroog and defeated Ponderosa on Monday night in their first game under interim coach Tristan York.