First published in the March 10 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
After 26 years and 626 career wins, La Salle College Preparatory’s varsity boys’ basketball head coach Michael Lynch has announced his retirement in order to run his nonprofit full time.
“I am fully convinced that my season is up,” Lynch told the Outlook in an email statement. “I plan to concentrate on running my nonprofit, ‘A Coach Is,’ full time.”
Before joining La Salle in 2015, Lynch amassed an impressive 511-105 record over a 19-year career at Los Angeles’ Price High School. While at Price, Lynch collected 10 CIF Southern Section championships, including a CIF record of eight consecutive titles, in addition to six state titles.
Lynch finished 115-73 with the Lancers over his seven-year tenure, including his 600th career victory against Bellflower in a 90-50 rout on Jan. 25, 2020.
In his first season at La Salle, Lynch guided the Lancers to their first CIF-SS championship appearance in more than 50 years, as well as their first-ever state playoff run.
In a March 3 press release, La Salle announced that athletic director Brandon Lincoln will take the reins of the boys’ basketball program that has two CIF runner-up plaques in the school’s 67-year history. Lincoln was previously a collegiate assistant men’s basketball coach at Miami University of Ohio, Montana State University and the University of Oregon before accepting a position a Providence High of Burbank.
“I am just looking forward to getting back on the court, helping some kids develop in basketball and try to help the program get to a championship level,” Lincoln said. “I really just want to help our young basketball players get better, learn the game and help them meet their goals.”
Lincoln spent four years at Providence High and captured back-to-back Prep League titles as well as consecutive CIF and state tournament appearances. He took over as athletic director at La Salle on Aug. 1, 2021.
The Lancers finished the recent season with a 13-13 overall record, placed third in league and were eliminated in the first round of CIF-SS Division 2A playoffs.
