Valencia Vikings boys basketball head coach Rocket Collins has been relieved of his coaching duties because the administration “wants to go in a different direction with the program.”
According to Collins, he was called into the office of new Valencia High School principal John Costanzo at 12:30 Friday afternoon after all the students had left for the day.
“I don’t know the real reason why,” Collins said on the phone when asked if he knew why. “Their reasoning has nothing to do with basketball, nothing I did wrong.”
Collins has been the head coach for 13 years and has been at Valencia High School as a campus supervisor for 19 years. During his first six years at the school he was the assistant boys basketball coach for Gary Spindt.
“Everybody is dumbfounded about this,” Collins said. “People are crying, my wife is crying. I haven’t talked to the (players), I haven’t talked with anybody. Everybody was gone when I was called into his office.”
Collins said he will continue as a campus supervisor.
“I never knew this was coming,” he said. “I did nothing wrong in basketball.”
Rocket Collins has been an employee of the Wm. S. Hart Union School District for 30 years.
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60 Comments
Mike Morales Thought about you! I can’t believe I still remember that coach!
Oh wow. Thanks for sharing Melissa Ceja
Tee Lee Zing wasn’t this your coach at Canyon? I remember he was so awesome.
This is sad. Rocket is an amazing coach.
He was @ Canyon in the mid 80s when I went there. Stand up guy
He was a great person! Always fun to talk to!
Gonna miss Rocket! He was awesome!
I was just talking about him today. My son will be playing freshman football next year at Valencia. What a bummer… :(
This sucks he was my coach at vhs.
Smack High
Not cool…
Ricky Torres
Curtis Dunwoody
William Scott Domingo
Steven Farmer Stupid decision by an administration who doesn’t know anything about basketball. Rocket is a hell of a coach and a great person.
It’s sad to see that Rocket will no longer be the coach. The one who made this decision is the incoming principal who is replacing Dr. Priesz.
He’s the former principal at Rio Norte Jr. High. Not a good sign. :(
What?! That’s not right
Alex Mac Brandi J Thomas crazy
Charles Burnley
Preach
The only black coach there huh? Surprised he lasted that long
Gotta make this a racist thing. Way to keep the racism wheels goin.
Politics politics politics. I’m sure the new coach will be a crony of the new principal.
Not only an amazing coach, but an amazing leader and mentor at that school!! Stupid decision admin.
Rocket is a huge piece of VHS history and he will be missed for sure! Sad to hear. He touched a lot of lives and was a wonderful coach!
Interesting.
Valencia’s definitely got issues. Sad.
Chrisanthi Pouridis Finley
The new principal has no idea who he is losing as the head coach! Rocket is amazing!!!! :/
Boo! So sad to hear this.
That is unbelievable! So I guess he has no protection from the union. That man has been at Valencia for how many years?!?! My stepdaughters graduated ten years ago and now my son goes there. Rocket is a joy and a fixture at Valencia. One of the good things about the school. That is unbelievable. Disgraceful, even. Gavin Gilmore, Ashley Gilmore and Brittany Gilmore, Rocket was fired from Valencia. :,(
Different direction? You mean LOSE?
I love rocket that is so sad
Sucks to hear this news about Rocket…
Awe man. Sad to hear that. Rocket IS valencia basketball and was My coach back in 96-98. Great man and a true loss for VHS
Whaaaaat
Bad decision!!
What! Coach Rocket was not just an excellent coach he was a mentor and friend to the students. After all he put into VHS & the teams he should at least be offered the respect to gracefully “retire” from coaching not publicly blasted for being “fired”
I have known Rocket for 35 years.. We played ball together as kids. Even then he was a great coach as well as an athlete and mentor to all. A finer man I have never met. I truly hope his talents find another home-the kids really need a guy like him.
Noooooooooo! Sorry to hear it!!! Really great man. Always had the kids best interest in hand!!!
Noooooooooo! Sorry to hear it!!! Really great man. Always had the kids best interest in hand!!!
New principal that’s doing all this stuff
It’s not only the new one.
What!?!?!? Why!?!??
Rocket is an amazing and wonderful human being with a huge heart. All the best to him.
Dislike!
Christina Loonie Bazazo
That a bummer he was a good coach and person!
Terrible
It may be hard to lose a coach that has been around for a long time! However, focus on what’s to come and lets raise the bar at Valencia! Head Coach CHAD PHILLIPS former Canyon High Coach is the only coach that can take over this program quickly and lead it to the top of the foothill league and beyond! He is the man for the job.
Wow when I was going to Valencia he was just a campus supervisor! Amazing that he’s been there so long but sad that he’s gone now
:(((((
WOW!!! That’s horrible news! He is a legend. That is a HUGE loss to Valencia!!! Those are some big shoes to fill. Rocket always had a smile on his face, he was well respected, a man of integrity, and had a way of making the students feel at home. This is so sad!
What a HUGE loss for Valencia High School. Rocket was a legend. I played on the girls basketball team 10 years ago and he always had a smile on his face. He was respected, and a man of integrity. He made teens feel at home at such a hard age in life. This is so sad!
Terrible move.
Horrible!
Wah wah wahhhh.
COACH CHAD PHILLIPS – One of the best if not the best candidates in SCV to head coach a boys varsity high school basketball team! A leader on and off the court not to mention a great teacher! Valencia don’t let this coach just slip by, I think this dedicated coach and family man could make a HUGE and EVERLASTING impact on Valencia High school as a whole!!! His basketball record speaks for its self.
COACH CHAD PHILLIPS!! – One of the best if not the best candidates in SCV to head coach a boys varsity high school basketball team! A leader on and off the court not to mention a great teacher! Valencia don’t let this coach just slip by, I think this dedicated coach and family man could make a HUGE and EVERLASTING impact on Valencia High school as a whole!!! His basketball record speaks for it’s self.
I didn’t even play basketball and he wake up at 3 in the morning to pick me up from my home and train me he was a great teacher and friend
:(
Wtf. I hope he’s still a part of the VHS community. Such an awesome guy.