Rich Forslund out as Half Moon Bay basketball coach

Last week, in an annual evaluation by the school board and HMB’s athletic director, Forslund was summarily dismissed as the program’s varsity head coach, as he was not asked to return for an eighth season.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Rich for all he’s done for the program and for the community,” Half Moon Bay athletic director Justin Ferdinand said. “But he won’t be returning next year.”

Forslund equated the action to being fired, saying he did not resign.

“I was fired, let go, whatever,” Forslund said. “Let’s just say I was not asked to return.”

Ferdinand declined comment in response to Forslund’s claim he was “fired.”

“We decided to take the program in a different direction,” Ferdinand said.

Forslund — who resides in Montara and works in Half Moon Bay running his own business as an insurance broker — has worked as a basketball coach for 37 years, including 22 years as a varsity head coach. He previously served as the head coach at Riordan-SF from 1998-2007, and prior to that was head coach at Burlingame (1995-97) and Lowell 1993-94.

At times a big personality on the basketball court, Forslund is notorious for his blunt-force coaching style. His voice can cut through even the most crowded of high school venues when he gives directions to his players in game situations, and he is often just as vocal in his practices.

His straightforward style, however, does endear him to many of his players.

“He just tells you how it is,” Half Moon Bay senior Ryan Yerby said. “He doesn’t sugarcoat it. But it makes you a better player.”

Yerby said he was surprised by the news Forslund won’t be returning to Half Moon Bay next season.

“I think he’s a great coach,” Yerby said. “He brings a winning attitude the whole time. He cares about the kids, he cares about winning. He puts in so much time. I was kind of surprised actually.”

Forslund said he was surprised by the situation as well.

“This did catch me off guard,” Forslund said.

Forslund said one of the first topics the school board presented in last week’s evaluation was based on parental complaints about his coaching style. He said there have been many similar coaching dismissals at other schools this offseason, citing similar grievances about high school varsity practices being “not fun.”

“It’s a common litany,” Forslund said. “And all it takes nowadays is two or three parents to make enough noise.”

Forslund said he would be open to coaching again at another school, but it is unlikely he will do so in 2017-18 as most of the open head coaching positions going into the current offseason have been filled.

“If the situation is right, absolutely,” Forslund said. “But it’s a little too late for [the 2017-18] season.”

In addition to Forslund, most of his coaching staff will exit as well. He said his four varsity assistant coaches — Peter Pollat, Ron Shaw, Dan O’Connor and Cantai Sloan — have all resigned, as well as freshman-team assistant coach Jason Young. Junior-varsity head coach Kyle Harwood had resigned previous to Forslund’s dismissal to return to school at San Jose State University.