October 11, 2007

Fujii excited about guidng T’wolves
He was coaching at Crean Lutheran South before going to Northwood to replace Tim O’Brien.
By TIM BURT IRVINE WORLD NEWS

Northwood’s High’s new boys basketball coach calls it his dream job and one that he couldn’t pass up.

Richard Fujii, who has been starting up the boys basketball program at Crean Lutheran South High in Irvine, has been named to succeed Tim O’Brien, who resigned in August as head coach at Northwood.

Fujii, 31, had been with the new private school in Irvine, which will compete on a sophomore-junior varsity schedule this year and is scheduled to open with a varsity schedule in 2008-2009.

“Being at Crean was definitely a good experience,” Fujii said Monday.

“But the opportunity to coach at Northwood is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a great school which is committed to academics and athletics.

“I wouldn’t have left Crean for any other school than Northwood - it’s in Irvine where is where I grew up.”

Fujii said officials at Crean “understand my decision, which made me feel better. I want to continue to build on what Tim O’Brien has done. He’s one of the best coaches in the county and he’s going to be on campus and will be a great resource for me.”

Northwood Athletic Director Dean Toohey said Fujii has some solid credentials.

“He is going to be a great addition to our program,” Toohey said. “He has a lot of character and is very disciplined.”

At Crean Lutheran, officials will now have to find a replacement for Fujii.

"Crean Lutheran South appreciates Coach Fujii’s contributions, and it wishes him well in his future endeavors, said Brian Underwood, assistant principal at Crean Lutheran.

Fujii served as varsity assistant and lower level coordinator at El Dorado High the past five years. Before that, he was a varsity assistant at Esperanza High.

The new Northwood coach grew up in Irvine and graduated from Woodbridge High in 1995.

He earned his degree from Cal State Fullerton.

Fujji went into coaching, although he did not play basketball at Woodbridge.

Fujii will take over a Northwood program which will be without one its top players. Center Jessee Hazely, expected to be the star of the team, transferred to Santa Margarita over the off-season.

“We’re returning one varsity player from last year and we’re going to take some lumps,” Fujii said.

“But we have some excellent kids who are committed to learning and are very receptive.

“There is definitely some talent. This is a rebuilding or retooling year, but I expect us to be competitive.”

Fujii said a major focus during the next five weeks will be to make sure that his players spend time in the weight room.

“We have some catching up to do,” said Fujii, who will continue to teach at Bonita Elementary School in Irvine in the mornings before going to Northwood to coach basketball in the afternoon.