Coaches are coming, going and passing on

Rossi went on to play at Occidental College, helping lead the team to three conference titles. After earning her bachelor’s in economics and master’s in sports management, Rossi returned to her alma mater in 2013 and worked with Davenport the last five years. She also has worked with Stanford’s men’s basketball program while also serving as an accounting associate at the university.

“We are more than thrilled to have Samantha Rossi as the new head coach here at Notre Dame-Belmont,” school athletic director Jason Levine said in a press release. “Sam will continue to build upon the tradition coach Davenport leaves behind, but will bring her own style … in taking Notre Dame-Belmont basketball towards new heights.”

This will be Rossi’s first-ever head coach assignment, but she has run the school’s club team.

“I am confident that my skill set, personality and unwavering work ethic are all attributes that can be positive assets to the Notre Dame basketball program,” Rossi said in the press release. “I have learned and gained the qualities necessary to be the head coach for NDB basketball.”

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While one coach is coming, one is leaving. Sacred Heart Prep also announced Wednesday that longtime girls’ water polo coach Jon Burke is leaving the school to take a position of director of college counseling at the York School in Monterey.

In his dozen years leading the girls’ program, Burke coached the Gators to nine West Catholic Athletic League titles and 10 consecutive Central Coast Section Division II championships. In 2016, Burke was named CCS Coach of the Year and, this past season, he named the top girls’ water polo coach in the state by the California Coaches Association.

“Jon’s passion for the game and commitment to his players has always been evident,” Frank Rodriguez, assistant principal of athletics, said in a press release. “He will be greatly missed both on and off the pool deck by this athletic administration. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

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Ray DeJong, a longtime PE teacher and coach at South San Francisco High School, died March 29, on his 92nd birthday at his home in Albany.

DeJong went to work for South City in 1950 before retiring in 1988. During his time as football coach, he turned the Warriors into a county powerhouse, leading them to 29 straight wins in North Peninsula League play in the 1960s.

After a stint in the U.S. Navy during World War II, DeJong went on to play on two Rose Bowl teams at Cal under legendary head coach Pappy Waldorf, losing to Northwestern in 1949 and to Ohio State in 1950.

A memorial luncheon will held at 11 a.m. June 3 at the South San Francisco Elks Lodge. Donations to the SSFHS Athletic Booster Club are preferred.

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The Sequoia baseball program is hosting its seventh annual fundraising golf tournament at Poplar Creek Golf Course in San Mateo May 21.

Cost is $150 per golfer or $550 for a foursome, which includes range ball, lunch and qualifies players for prizes throughout the day.

To sign up, go to bit.do/seqbaseballgolf2018. For more information, email head coach Corey Uhalde at cuhalde@seq.org.

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Sports memorabilia and card shows are a dime a dozen, but this weekend’s Tri Star Sports Collectible Show event at Cow Palace in Daly City is not your ordinary card show.

On hand will be autograph experts from Professional Sports Authenticator, one of the most well-known and most accepted member in sports memorabilia verification, to authenticate your signed sports treasures. Organizers are “offering a special $10 autograph authentication price for any item with a regular autograph authentication charge of $49 or less, as well as a $10 show signer special for any single-signed items obtained at the show.”

There will also be the requisite athletes for autograph sessions, including various 49ers legends: Jerry Rice, Roger Craig and Keena Turner (Saturday), and Joe Montana and John Taylor (Sunday). Also scheduled to attend are Reggie Jackson (Saturday) and Dick Butkus (Sunday).

The show runs Friday through Sunday at 2600 Geneva Ave. Doors open 3 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday. There is a $12 parking fee.

Nathan Mollat can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: 344-5200 ext. 117. You can follow him on Twitter @CheckkThissOutt.