Former South Kitsap basketball coaches aiding Gig Harbor after abrupt suspensions

Posted by author January 29, 2025 Basketball

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John Callaghan and Brian Cox will assist Tides interim girls coach Dan Dizon, who played at South Kitsap.

Former South Kitsap boys basketball head coaches John Callaghan and Brian Cox are returning to the hardwood after odd circumstances this week left Gig Harbor’s girls basketball program without a single coach.

On Monday, Peninsula School District announced it was placing three Gig Harbor girls coaches, including head coach Tim Olson, on administrative leave for the remainder of the season during an ongoing investigation triggered by a complaint made against the coaches. Olson spent two seasons coaching boys basketball at Kingston High School from 2007-09.

Callaghan, who retired in 2019 after earning 304 victories across 21 seasons at South Kitsap, said he received a phone call Tuesday from one of his former players, Dan Dizon, regarding the openings at Gig Harbor. Dizon, who works as executive director of human resources for Peninsula School District, informed Callaghan that he’d be taking over as interim coach. Dizon needed a couple assistants to help him handle varsity and junior varsity duties.

Callaghan and Cox agreed to join Dizon, who previously coached girls basketball at Gig Harbor. The trio were set to make their first appearance together Wednesday night during the Tides’ road game at Central Kitsap. Gig Harbor is 10-8 overall and 7-7 in the Puget Sound League 3A.

“I can’t get away from this game,” Callaghan said with a laugh when contacted by the Kitsap Sun on Wednesday.

The three coaches have history together in Port Orchard.

Callaghan, who is retired after a long teaching career in South Kitsap School District, began his coaching career at the high school as C-team coach. Dizon played under Callaghan and later became a varsity starter before graduating in 1984.

Cox was the 2003 Kitsap Sun player of the year while playing basketball and baseball at South Kitsap. He helped Callaghan’s 2002-03 hoops team place fifth at the Class 4A state tournament and later served as an assistant coach on Callaghan’s varsity staff. When Callaghan retired in 2019, Cox became head coach and filled that role before resigning in 2022.

“We’re all pretty good friends,” said Callaghan, who entered the state basketball coaches hall of fame in 2022.

Callaghan said it’s obviously a tough situation for all involved, especially Gig Harbor’s players considering it’s almost the end of the regular season. The district playoffs are scheduled to begin Feb. 13.

“We met the girls (Tuesday) and had a little walk-through. Basically they were showing us what offenses they run,” Callaghan said. “It’s kind of fun, but it’s kind of a bummer for those kids.”

In recent years, Callaghan served as an assistant coach at Olympic College (2021-22) when his son Ryley coached the Rangers, and most recently as an assistant girls coach at Olympic High School (2023-24) when his daughter Kelsey led the Trojans.

Now he’ll begin what could be the shortest coaching stint of his long career.

“I gotta kick the dust off!” Callaghan said.