Sports: David Kohn resigns as New London girls’ basketball coach

Less than a week after the New London High School girls' basketball team's season-ending loss in the first round of the Class LL state tournament, first-year coach David Kohn confirmed his resignation Friday.

The Whalers, having graduated their entire frontcourt from last season's team which went 25-3 and reached the Class LL state championship game at Mohegan Sun Arena, finished 18-5 overall this season with a share of their seventh straight Eastern Connecticut Conference divisional title. New London and Norwich Free Academy each went 5-1 in ECC Division I play to share the regular-season championship.

New London lost its last two games of the season, being knocked out of the ECC Division I tournament with a semifinal loss to Bacon Academy and falling to Hall in its Class LL opener.

Kohn, who formerly coached at Class S Parish Hill, was tabbed to replace Holly Misto as the Whalers' head coach this season. He was hired in November, just prior to the start of the season.

Kohn said Friday: "I shared with the team and school the other day that I won't be returning. It was a tough decision but, I believe, the right one for me and for the team.

"It's nothing against New London. I just think, in the end, I realized that my coaching philosophy which focuses more on the journey and the lessons that can be learned along the way than on the end results, is somewhat out of sync with the philosophy of today's sports generation.

"As a result, I don't feel that I was meeting the needs of all the players and parents and I'm hoping there is a better fit out there for them. The girls had an amazing year with their 18 wins and a share of the regular-season title and I wish them many more great games in years to come."

New London had two All-ECC Division I selections in guards Jayden Burns and Joniyah Bland-Fitzpatrick. v.fulkerson@theday.com

“The girls had an amazing year with their 18 wins and a share of the regularseason title and I wish them many more great games in years to come.” DAVID KOHN

SEAN D. ELLIOT/THE DAY New London girls’ basketball coach David Kohn, right, talks to Jayden Burns as the team takes the floor for the second half in a game against NFA on Jan. 4.