JOHNSON, FARRELL RETIRING
Longtime county coaching icons step down at El Camino
Ray Johnson and John Farrell, icons of high school basketball in San Diego, are walking away after a combined 80 seasons and more than 1,500 victories.
“We figured we’d go out together,” Johnson joked.
Johnson and Farrell both coached at El Camino High last season, Johnson guiding the boys, Farrell the girls.
Johnson, 68, leaves El Camino with 817 wins on the boys side and 88 wins as the girls coach.
His teams won 24 league titles. In 37 years as the boys coach — interrupted by stops as an assistant coach at Fairleigh Dickenson University, Loyola Marymount and Cal State San Marcos — Johnson won nine CIF boys championships and one girls title.
“Obviously, we’ve had some really good players come through here, and we’ve had a lot of success,” Johnson said.
Wildcats to earn playerof-the-year honors include Gyno Pomare, Mikel Watson, Luke Evans, Chris Dade and Joe Eyres.
“The last two years were really tough,” said Johnson, who was 49-13 the last two seasons. “Two years ago, the gym floor was damaged and we didn’t have a place to play or practice. We had to bus kids to practice. This season we were dealing with the virus. So it was challenging.
“I’m really proud of what we accomplished here, but I don’t want people to ignore what John Farrell accomplished. We coached against each other for a long time, and he was tough.
“The last few years we were at El Camino and became very good friends. John Farrell was the guy who started the Torrey Pines Tournament. He brought big-time, national teams to San Diego. He put San Diego basketball on the national map.”
Farrell came to San Diego after coaching eight years in Las Vegas.
He spent 12 seasons as boys coach at Torrey Pines, coaching Courtie Miller, Kevin Flanagan and Scot Pollard, all players of the year.
Torrey Pines won three San Diego Section championships under Farrell. He spent two seasons at ArmyNavy, coached at Bishop’s, La Costa Canyon and finally the girls at El Camino, winning the Division I championship this season. He finished his career with 472 wins on the boys side and 265 coaching the girls. His teams won six CIF titles.
“I’ve spent 43 years teaching, 39 coaching and at age 75, it’s time to retire,” Farrell said.
“I had good players, and we had good results. I always believed in treating my players — boys and girls — with respect, like athletes. And it worked because they performed well.
“We did OK. In the ’80s, Ray Johnson and I were at each other’s throats. Now we’re great friends, and I love that.”
Farrell’s last team went 17-6, beating Ontario Christian and El Camino Real in the Southern California Regionals before losing 50-47 to Westlake in the championship game.
“We were one basket away from a really special season,” Farrell said.
Farrell plans to spend more time with his grandchildren while maintaining a residence in San Diego and traveling to Oregon.
Johnson said he plans to go fishing.
El Camino has posted both coaching jobs.
“I’m confident they’ll get good people,” Johnson said. “John and I are both hoping they build on what’s already here.”