Winning coach of 41 years let go at Northern California High School

Coach Pam Wimberly won’t return as girls basketball coach at Menlo-Atherton High School next year:

Pam Wimberly, the winningest girls basketball coach in Northern California history, has been relieved of her duties at Menlo-Atherton High School.

“It came as a shock; it has kind of hit me hard,” Wimberly said. “I was told Thursday afternoon by my principal, Matthew Zito. He gave three reasons: poor communication skills, practices not being effective and that he would like a more modern, fast-paced style of play.”

When reached Tuesday, Zito declined to comment, citing district policy.

Wimberly, 65, has coached at Menlo-Atherton for 41 years.

She has a career record of 663-340, ranking third on the state wins list behind Joe Vaughan (761) of Buena High in Ventura and Eleanor Dykstra (665) of Valley Christian-Cerritos.

Menlo-Atherton won 18 league championships and four Central Coast Section titles under Wimberly. She also served as the school’s athletic director for 23 years.