Jim Rimando is ending a 38-year coaching career that included stops at the high school and junior college levels for women's basketball.
Rimando, who retired from junior college coaching two years ago, returned this season to restore discipline to the Seaside High School girls program, rebuild the numbers and revive the JV program.
This time, Rimando handed in his whistle as a coach at any level and announced that he would not be returning as the Spartans' coach.
Rimando began his coaching career at North Salinas in 1986 and led North Salinas to the Northern California Division 1 Tournament in 1989, losing to eventual state champion Grant High.
Enjoying the challenge, Rimando moved to Seaside in 1998, where he won eight Monterey Bay League titles before retiring after 14 years.
Rimando returned to coaching after a three-year hiatus and spent five seasons at Hartnell, first as an assistant before becoming head coach.
The longtime coach announced his retirement after being hospitalized for more than two weeks battling the coronavirus.
Still, Seaside's desire to make a comeback once again gave them another point of momentum, winning their final three games in the Mission Division and returning to the playoffs.
“That was one of the hardest-working teams I've coached in 38 years,” Rimando said. “We limped into the playoffs with six healthy players. We brought back the JV program. We did what we set out to do.”