Sean DeLong was fired from his position as head coach of the Canyon varsity boys basketball team on Tuesday afternoon, the coach confirmed Wednesday.
The former Cowboys coach refused to mention a specific reason as to why he was let go, although he did say it was “probably a few different issues.”
DeLong was also given the option to resign, but he chose not to.
“I respect my administration, and they were very fair with me,” DeLong said. “I don’t have much to say. The way the season kind of ended, I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to my team at all, and I just wish them the best in everything.”
DeLong joined the Cowboys at the start of the 2018-19 season and coached the team to an 11-10 overall record and 1-2 Foothill League record in his time as coach in the 2019-20 season.
This was DeLong’s second stint as a coach in the Canyon basketball program. He previously served as an assistant coach under former head coach Chad Phillips, before taking over the program as head coach from 2013 to 2016. He took a two-year hiatus before returning to the Cowboys.
“Being out for a couple years, I really wanted to come back and give it another shot,” he said of his return. “I made the decision to leave before and I think I always had an itch because I was the one who chose to leave.”
Although he hasn’t ruled out a return to coaching, DeLong plans to focus on his health, his family and his faith in the immediate future. He will also continue to coach special education algebra at Canyon High School.
“One-hundred percent my relationship with my lord,” DeLong said of his focus going forward. “My wife and kids have sacrificed so much for me to coach, and they deserve to have their dad and husband back; try and be a better man every day and do my part in making the world around me better.”
Ali Monfared, who was an assistant coach under DeLong, will take over head coaching duties for the foreseeable future.
DeLong is the second local basketball head coach to be relieved this season. West Ranch varsity boys coach Ron Manalastas resigned amid his second year in mid-December, leaving Jeff Bryant to assume coaching duties for the Wildcats.
