WRCA coach off to college

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One of B.C.’s most successful high school basketball coaches is leaving the prep game for the college ranks.

Longtime White Rock Christian Academy senior boys coach Scott Allen has agreed to take over as new head coach of the men’s team at Langley’s Trinity Western University.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet. I woke up and wondered, ‘What did I just decide?’” Allen said.

“I was happy either way – White Rock is a fantastic school and a great program, but it’s a privilege to be able to coach (at Trinity Western), and it’s a new challenge for me. It was just time.”

TWU’s current interim coach, Pat Lee – former coach at the University College of the Fraser Valley – was believed to be the frontrunner for the full-time position, but Allen received an offer Feb 21, nearly two weeks after it was assumed Lee likely had the position wrapped up.

“That’s what I thought, but I guess they went another direction,” Allen said.

Allen has coached at WRCA since 1992, and has led the Warriors to two senior boys single-A provincial titles, and three AAA championships, the latest in 2004/05.

He also has the highest winning percentage at B.C. senior boys AAA championships of any coach in the history of the tournament.

Leaving White Rock Christian was an agonizing decision, said Allen, who is also the athletic director and secondary head teacher at the small South Surrey school.

“It’s tough – for my family, it’s tough,” he said.

“But I’m still going to be around – we’ll still run our camps here. I’m not stopping.”

Lee, who’s held the interim tag since coming onboard at TWU in January, was was philosophical about the outcome.

“It was a win-win situation,” Lee said, noting that he’ll have more time to spend time with his family since he’ll be away from the grind of university hoops.

“This decision was in God’s hands. And you know what, God’s got something else in store for me. And that’s okay. I can live with that, no problem.

“They made a decision they feel comfortable with, and it’ll be good. Scott’s a good coach.”

Allen will stay with WRCA – currently No. 2 in B.C. AAA senior boys rankings – for the rest of the school year. He’ll handle both jobs until then.

Asked if he’d try to lure any of his Warriors to his new school after graduation, Allen laughed.

“I’ve already started.”

- with files from Dan Kinvig, Abbotsford News