Minerd reflects on time at California

By Jose Negron

jnegron@yourmvi.com

Being a 1992 Beth-Center graduate, Chris Minerd never truly envisioned himself ever working in the California Area School District. 

The rivalry between the Bulldogs and Trojans might be civil nowadays, but interactions between the area students were few and far between during Minerd’s days at BC. 

“Back then, if you went to Beth-Center, you didn’t talk to anybody from California,” Minerd said. “Now, it’s a totally different day and age, but when I graduated from high school and college, if somebody would have said, ‘You’re going to work at California High School,’ I would have said, ‘There is no chance of that.’” 

A district once thought of as a rival became Minerd’s home away from home for 13 years. 

Minerd began his tenure at California in 2007 as an assistant girls basketball coach. He took over the girls program in 2010 and then was named the school’s first full-time athletic director and facilities manager in 2014. 

Minerd’s time at Cal officially came to an end Friday after the school board voted unanimously to eliminate his position on July 15. 

“This experience meant everything,” Minerd said of his time at California. “It’s hard to get into a school district if you’re not a teacher and I was just trying to get into a couple of different districts to get an opportunity to coach. California was the one that took a chance on me, so I will always be appreciative for that.” 

Minerd, who replaced Phil Pergola as athletic director six years ago, said he was told middle school assistant principal Ray Huffman would take over the athletic director responsibilities. 

Despite understanding that “business is business,” Minerd said he was disappointed by the board’s decision to eliminate his position. 

“I don’t agree with the decision because there weren’t any sports cut, and not that I want them to cut sports, I never want that, but I’m up there spending a ton of hours a week and I didn’t understand how they were going to bring that in house with somebody that already has a full-time job,” said Minerd. “I know that a lot of small schools, and a lot of big schools, are hurting financially and it was a fiscal decision, according to them, but I was disappointed.” 

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