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JSerra and girls basketball coach Chyanne Butler have “mutually agreed” to part ways, school spokesperson Jason Fields said late Friday.
The Trinity League school declined further comment but stated earlier in the season that the third-year coach and former USC player had been placed on administrative leave.
Assistant coach Phil Talleur became the interim coach for Butler and remains in the position, Fields said. The Lions are 13-9 and ranked No. 7 in Orange County without any senior starters.
Last season, Butler guided JSerra, led by mostly freshmen, to the CIF-SS Division 3A title. The team started four freshmen and a junior as it claimed the school’s first section championship.
JSerra’s 43-30 win against St. Margaret’s in the CIF-SS final capped a turnaround from an 0-14 season in 2022-23.
Butler was named CIF-SS Division 3A coach of the year.
In the offseason, JSerra added transfers Kayla Rice from Dana Hills and Vivian Grenald from Orangewood Academy to its young core. The squad now starts five sophomores.
Talleur said he took the coaching reins just before JSerra began the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic in San Diego on Dec. 27.
The Lions had recently returned from the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona. It was their first time playing in the tournament under Butler.
Butler’s coaching staff had included assistant Frank Session but he wasn’t on the bench last week when the Lions played host to Mater Dei in league. The school declined comment about Session.
Butler arrived at JSerra after serving as the interim coach at Pacifica Christian. In 2021-22, she coached the Tritons to the CIF-SS Division 4A title.
Butler starred for St. Bernard’s and Serra of Gardena before playing collegiately for USC and Houston.
Telleur, who is 7-2 as the interim coach, coached several of the girls as youth players on a powerhouse Newport Rockets team.
He is being assisted by Joe Santos. Both coaches have daughters on the team.
On Saturday, JSerra plays Westview in the Private-Public Showcase at Los Osos High at 1 p.m.
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