Alta Loma High School volleyball coach Tishanna Pope has resigned, citing family.
Pope has directed the Braves volleyball program the last eight years and boasts a career record of 148-119 in that span.
The past season was the best in school history as the Braves went 36-3, cruised to a Mt. Baldy League title, won the Southern Section title (Division 4AA) and advanced to the state championship match before falling to Sonora in a five-set thriller.
It was the deepest run for any team in Chaffey Joint Unified School District history.
She was the Daily Bulletin’s Coach of the Year and the CIF nominee for Coach of the Year in volleyball.
Pope and husband Dubin had their first child in September, a daughter named Naomi.
“I can’t say it was a tough decision but it wasn’t necessarily either,” she said. “Volleyball has been part of my life for so long. But this seemed like the right time.”
Pope, a 1998 graduate of Alta Loma, also teaches math at the school and will remain in that role.
The job will have to be flown inside the school district first. The logical successor would be Cindy Gurney, who coached the team with Pope last year and headed the program from 1982 until Pope took over in 2006.
She returned to be by Pope’s side in 2011.
Pope also coaches club ball with Pacific Juniors but hasn’t decided if she’ll continue in that capacity.
