NEWPORT BEACH – Gary McKnight’s most important win happened 18 years ago, when he beat cancer.
Another glorious triumph was when he convinced Judy Keithley to marry him 39 years ago.
McKnight got another significant victory Friday. He became the first basketball coach in California high school history to get 1,000 wins as Mater Dei beat Corona del Mar, 67-44, in the semifinals of the Beach Bash tournament at Corona del Mar High.
Mater Dei (5-0) will play Tustin in the Beach Bash championship game today at 8:30 p.m. at Corona del Mar.
Corona del Mar hung in there with Mater Dei until the Monarchs pulled away midway through the third quarter. The Sea Kings had a 21-18 lead in the second quarter.
Mater Dei senior Rex Pflueger, who signed with Notre Dame, scored eight points in the third quarter and six in the fourth to finish with 15 points. Monarchs freshman Michael Wang scored 15 points and made all three of his 3-pointers. La’vette Parker scored 13 points and MJ Cage scored 10 with 15 rebounds for Mater Dei.
Bo St. Geme, an outstanding receiver on Corona del Mar’s football team, led the Sea Kings with 17 points. Kevin Fults added 11 for Corona del Mar.
Friday’s result might be as big as any of McKnight’s 11 state-championship wins, or his 22 CIF-Southern Section finals wins.
Perhaps it’s not even as memorable as that first win in his first year coaching at Mater Dei, the 1982-83 season.
McKnight, 62, remembers that first one like it happened yesterday.
“We beat Troy in the Valencia Tournament,” McKnight said. “But we didn’t play at Valencia, we played at El Dorado.
“Wait a minute, didn’t we play El Dorado? I can’t remember.”
It was Troy. McKnight does remember the players and assistant coaches who helped him build his 1,000-85 record, which is a winning percentage of 92.
“I got to coach some of the best players Orange County’s ever had,” McKnight said. “And I’ve been able to coach with a lot of great guys over the years.”
One of his first great players, Tom Lewis, who now coaches Saddleback Valley Christian, once called McKnight “the ultimate CEO” for McKnight’s ability to organize and manage for decades what could be called the top program in Orange County high school sports history.
McKnight said he micromanages much less these days.
“I surround myself with the best people I can and I let them coach,” he said. “I think I’ve mellowed quite a bit over the years.”
Among McKnight’s current coaching staff are two former Mater Dei players. His son, Clay McKnight, was an All-County player. Jason Quinn, in his 23rd season as a Monarchs assistant, was a starter on the 1990 state championship team.
Jerry DeBusk, a recent addition to the assistants group, coached Santa Margarita to five section championships and two state titles. He collected 642 wins as a head coach at Santa Margarita and Newport Harbor.
The Monarchs have won 44 games in a row. Their last loss was to Etiwanda in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1AA championship game in the 2012-13 season. Mater Dei then won three CIF Southern California Regionals games, including a win over Etiwanda, then beat Archbishop Mitty of San Jose in the CIF State Open Division championship game.
Mater Dei went 35-0 last year as the Monarchs won section and state championships.
How many more seasons are in McKnight’s future?
“I’ll keep doing this,” he said, “as long as I stay healthy.”
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
