Eagles Hoops Go College Route to Replace DeBusk

For two decades, Santa Margarita Catholic put its basketball program in the hands of Jerry DeBusk and then didn't worry about it.

On Tuesday, the Eagles gave the reins of the program to Jeff Reinert, who has been a college coach for 24 years.

during the past season, his 20th at the school; his run included two state and five Southern Section championships, and seven league titles.

, in which the Eagles competed against some of the state's best teams in Mater Dei, Orange Lutheran and Bellflower St. John Bosco, Santa Margarita 17-14 and reached the Southern Section Division 3A semifinals. 

Reinert begins his position next week. 

He was most recently an associate head coach at Fresno State, where he coached from 2007-2011. He was in charge of team coaching defense, post players and was also the recruiting coordinator.

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In addition to Fresno State, Reinert also shared No. 2 duties at Oregon State, and coached at Brigham Young, Nebraska and Iowa's Simpson College.

He was head coach at Utah Valley University where he compiled a 179-77 record, making him that program's winningest coach.

It was while at Oregon State that Reinert first became familiar with Santa Margarita because he came on campus to scout Klay Thompson, who ultimately chose Stanford.

“I was immediately impressed and amazed by the campus and thought if this job ever opened up I would be very interested,” Reinert said in a release from Santa Margarita.

Reinert most recently coached at Fresno State from April of 2007 to 2011 where he was responsible for coaching team defense and front court players as well as serving as the team’s recruiting coordinator. 

While at Fresno State, Reinert coached the first round draft pick of the Indiana Pacers, Paul George. Reinert's experience has included not only coaching on the court, but overseeing academic compliance and progress, scheduling, fundraising, summer camps, teaching, hiring staff, media relations and community service programs.

That played well with principal Ray Dunne, who said he was very pleased to get someone who offered so much.

“He has an outstanding record and reputation and we are thrilled that he will join the SMCHS family,” Dunne said.

Reinert and his wife, Trish, a former collegiate basketball player herself at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, have a daughter, Gretchen, 12. 

The family currently lives in Oregon.

“To coach at a school I have always admired is just a wonderful opportunity,” Reinert said. “I have great respect for Coach DeBusk and hope to continue to build on the success he has enjoyed here.   We can do great things here and continue to raise the bar. It’s a wonderful school and a place where young men can grow—that’s a place where I want to be.”

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Reinert will work in the school’s admissions department as its international student and parish relations coordinator. Santa Margarita has seen a recent surge in the number of international students applying for admission with record numbers expected for next school year.

Reinert played college basketball at New Mexico before transferring to Gonzaga where he played alongside John Stockton. 

Reinert voted to the West Coast Conference's All-Academic team as a senior and earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and went on to earn a master’s degree from Drake University in educational leadership. He also has completed coursework towards a doctoral degree from the University of Nebraska.