Cipriano ousted at Santa Rosa

Updated: May 15, 2020

***Longtime Santa Rosa boys basketball coach Johnny Cipriano was let go recently after the school board voted 4-3 to not renew his contract.*** Photo courtesy of Rio Sports Live

By DAVE FAVILA
LFN

SANTA ROSA – In a move that stunned the community, Johnny Cipriano will not return as Santa Rosa High School’s athletic director and boys head basketball coach after the school board voted 4-3 to not renew the longtime coach’s contract.

The decision was made during a special school board meet that was held in a virtual format on Wednesday, April 29.

Rumors that Cipriano’s job was in jeopardy had surfaced days prior to the meeting and, as a result, a large portion of the community, including former Santa Rosa basketball players, had come out in support of the coach and an online petition was even started.

Despite the effort, the school board decided to let Cipriano go and gave no official reason as to why and did not give any indication as to who might succeed him.

Cipriano had been with the district for 22 years and took the reins as athletic director two years ago. As the Warriors’ head basketball coach, he led the program to 16 consecutive district titles, nine trips to the regional tournament and three trips to the state final four. Moreover, he helped several of his student-athletes sign letters of intent to play basketball at the college level.

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