The Menlo bench celebrates a three-point basket by Menlo’s Maeia Makoni (40) as Menlo head coach John Paye gestures while playing against Rolling Hills Prep in the first half of the Division II Girls CIF State Basketball Championship game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
John Paye, who led Menlo School’s girls basketball team to four state championships in 22 seasons as coach over two stints, is stepping down, the school announced Friday.
Paye, who won a state basketball title himself at Menlo in 1983, starred as a quarterback on the football team and was a standout in baseball, finished with a 417-194 record.
He is now coaching the school’s girls flag football team, a sport that is in its first season under the California Interscholastic Federation umbrella.
“I’m sad to leave the program,” Paye, 58, said in the school’s news release. “I’ll always be a Menlo Knight, and Menlo will always be in my heart. I’ll still be a huge fan and at the games.”
After a decorated high school career at Menlo, Paye went on to start at quarterback for Stanford. He also played point guard on the basketball team.
In his first stint as Menlo’s girls basketball coach, his teams won consecutive state titles from 1989-91, with his sister, Kate, starring for the school. He also guided the Knights to a state crown in 2019.
“John has done so much for Menlo School,” athletic director Earl Koberlein said. “First, as a student, he was an outstanding football, basketball, and baseball player, and then as an esteemed coach of our girls’ basketball teams for 22 seasons. He has also coached a plethora of middle school teams over the years.
“John has positively impacted thousands of Menlo students. He has always been a huge advocate and supporter of women’s sports and women athletes. Menlo has been fortunate to have John coach our students for as long as he has.”
A search for the next Menlo girls basketball coach will begin immediately, the school said.
Serra baseball
Serra has named Mat Keplinger as its new baseball coach. The Stockton native pitched at the University of Nevada and played professionally in Germany.
Keplinger said about Serra in a news release, “This program is so rich in history with so many great alumni, I am looking forward to connecting with everyone who wants to be a part of what we’re building. This is a passionate baseball community and I am very excited to meet the players and connect with them.”
Travis Burnett
A pioneer in the flag football community, Travis helped co-found the Flag Football World Championship Tour, FlagSpin and USA Flag. Featuring 15+ years of content creation for the sport of flag football, creating and managing the largest flag football tournaments on the planet, coaching experience at the youth and adult level as well as an active player with National and World Championship level experience.
