St. Francis' Motil steps down after 15 seasons
Saying that he looks forward to watching his own kids compete in sports, longtime St. Francis boys basketball coach Mike Motil announced on Monday that he has stepped down after 15 seasons.
Under Motil, the Lancers captured four West Catholic Athletic League championships and a NorCal title.
They had two 30-win seasons, won the Central Coast Section Open Division championship in 2016 and were led by numerous standouts, including Tyler Johnson, who played in the NBA, and Johnson's younger brother, Logan, who just completed his college career at Saint Mary's.
“The relationships that have been fostered over the years are what I appreciate the most from these years of coaching basketball,” Motil said in the school's news release. “Our Saint Francis program is built on family, and I recognize that the next few years of time with my own family will go by quickly. With four kids at various stages of high school and college years, I look forward to being able to watch them compete in their various sports and pursue their own passions.
“I am very optimistic about the future of Saint Francis basketball and know that this transition will be a good one for the next generation of Lancers.”
In Motil's first season as head coach, the Lancers went 30-3 overall and shared the WCAL title with Sacred Heart Cathedral. They were just as strong in his second season, Tyler Johnson's senior year, finishing 30-4 overall and 14-0 in the WCAL en route to reaching the Division II state final.
The 2016 team, which included a young Logan Johnson and firstteam all-league players Noah Stapes and Curtis Witt, captured the CCS Open title and went 25-3, 140.
“Mo is a true grinder,” athletic director Therren Wilburn said in the news release. “Lots of film study, lots of basketball observation, and tons of student-athlete development on and off the court.”
Motil finished 272-151 overall and (not counting the COVID spring season) 111-85 in the WCAL, according to results reported to MaxPreps.
His teams won five CCS titles, including the Division II crown this past season.