Terry named Warriors' new head boys basketball coach

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

Jonathan Terry was chosen as Fallbrook High School's new head boys basketball coach. "Just really excited," Terry said.

Terry replaces Moe Golshani, who coached the Warriors during the 2020-21 season but accepted the position as the Mission Viejo High School coach in August. Terry, who moved to Fallbrook from Lemon Grove this past spring, was hired Sept. 10.

"He's really going to be solid," said Fallbrook High Athletic Director Pat Walker.

Terry's father was in the Air Force and he was raised in Alexandria, Virginia. He played for basketball coach Don McCool at Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, and the 6'0" Terry was a point guard for the Majors. He attended Radford University in southern Virginia but did not play basketball in college.

"Pretty much I've been coaching ever since," Terry said.

The coaching was below the high school level before Terry moved from Virginia to the University City area of San Diego in 2010. His son, Jordan, graduated from University City High School in 2015 and played basketball for the Centurions. Terry began his high school coaching career as University City's freshman coach for 2014-15.

Liberty Charter is in Lemon Grove and Terry coached the Lions after moving to Lemon Grove in 2014. He was the head coach in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The Lions reached the semifinals of the CIF Division V playoffs in 2019. Terry was the junior varsity coach for El Cajon Valley High School in 2019-20 and the Braves' 2020-21 head coach.

The move to Fallbrook caused Terry to change schools once again. "We just loved the area. Beautiful out here," he said.

Because Terry owns his home in Fallbrook the lure of a school closer to home, which was the reason for Golshani's departure, won't be the case. "I think he's going to build something special and he's going to be around for a long time," Walker said.

"Love the community and just really excited to get started," Terry said. "I like the tradition here at Fallbrook."

Terry met Golshani after moving to Fallbrook. The Warriors' CIF season ended June 1 with a loss in the Division IV playoffs. Golshani had made preparations for an off-season club, including a feeder program for players not yet in high school, prior to the beginning of the CIF season. After CIF play ended, the North County Outlawz began practice. Terry helped Golshani coach the off-season program. "He wanted me to be his number one assistant," Terry said.

When Golshani took the position in Mission Viejo, Terry sought the Warriors' head coaching job. Fallbrook Union High School District staff members had the first opportunity to replace Golshani, but none applied by the Sept. 8 deadline.

"I'm fond of Coach Moe, so I just appreciate the opportunity," Terry said.

Terry considers development and training to be his strongest coaching skill. "My values and goals are to develop everyone," Terry said. "We want to learn all the skill development."

Trae Harrison is the head coach for Fallbrook's girls. Terry would like to mentor Fallbrook girls as well as the Warriors' boys. "We want to build unity between the two," Terry said.

"That's exciting to me when the programs work together," Walker said.

Golshani is willing to work with the new Fallbrook coach on the North Valley Outlawz program while also having a North Valley Outlawz club at Mission Viejo High School. Terry will consider that option as well as bringing the California Blue Wave club to Fallbrook. "I have my own program," Terry said.

The El Cajon Valley High School version of the California Blue Wave participated in a spring league. Terry notes that additional learning will be required so that he can integrate lower levels with the high school program. "My first goal is to learn about the community," he said.

He was aware of Potter Junior High School when he took the position. "I'm working with the middle school," he said.

Some Sullivan Middle School students will go to Fallbrook High School instead of Bonsall High School. Vallecitos Elementary School, which is kindergarten through eighth grade, feeds into Fallbrook High School. Fallbrook also has private schools which educate students through eighth grade.

Terry would also like to learn about the past in addition to the potential future. "It's really important to have alumni still associated," he said.

Connecting the current players and the alumni with each other will build relationships, but Terry would like the players to do their own fundraising. "I want them to value the program and take ownership," he said.

Walker likes Terry's philosophy of building relationships. "He's a highly qualified coach, but that's the part I was really impressed with," Walker said.

"Got a lot on my plate definitely," Terry said. "I'm just excited about the challenge."

Practice will begin Nov. 6. "I'm excited to get the guys in the gym," Terry said. "I feel pretty confident that we can have a pretty successful season here."