Longtime Camarillo High basketball coach Mike Prewitt retires
Mike Prewitt nearly made winning look easy during his illustrious 32-year career as a high school coach.
Maybe because he never tried to be anybody but himself.
“Absolutely,” he says. “I’m old school. That’s the way I always coached. I wanted my players to work hard every day to get better.
“I loved coming to practice knowing it was another day for the team to improve.”
Prewitt’s three-decades-plus run operating top-notch teams has ended. He’s announced he’s stepping down as Camarillo High’s girls basketball head coach after nine sterling seasons where the Scorpions were as consistently good as any program in Ventura County.
“Honestly, the thought of starting all over and getting ready for another season became a little daunting,” Prewitt said. “Thirty-two years is a long time. It’s time for someone bringing new ideas to take over.”
Prewitt’s golden nine seasons in charge of the Scorpions’ girls program featured a 199-50 record, nine playoff appearances and eight league championships, including seven in undefeated fashion.
His teams reached two CIF-Southern Section championship games resulting in two taut losses. The Scorpions lost to Ventura in the 2014 Division 1A title game, 59-51, and fell to Rosary in 2017 in the Division 2AA finals, 52-51.
It’s a unique record of success, considering Prewitt spent 20 previous years coaching Camarillo’s boys program after three seasons running the Channel Islands High boys program.
He made the seamless transition to directing the girls program by making zero changes to his coaching style.
“No difference at all,” he said. “I found that the girls were just as dedicated to winning as I was. They were looking to work hard every day, and eager to get better.”
Prewitt coached a series of standout players, including Gabriela Jaquez and Alyssa Marin.
He said all the girls were a pleasure to coach.
“That’s what I’ll miss the most,” he said. “Seeing them work to improve as as a team, seeing them having fun playing basketball is what means the most to me.”
Prewitt said he remains proud of one key asset that defined the Scorpions' girls program.
"No transfers," he said. "We did it with homegrown kids who wanted to play for the hometown school. You don't see that much in today's game."
Camarillo now begins the search for Prewitt’s replacement and will soon be taking applications.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Longtime Camarillo basketball coach Mike Prewitt announces retirement
