Dow Takes Stock, Gives Up Boys’ Coaching Chore

Longtime Coach Bud Dow has resigned from the Chatsworth High boys’ volleyball team, ending nearly a quarter-century of coaching boys in the Valley.

Dow, who began coaching at Birmingham in 1976, wants to devote more time to his family.

“There comes a time when I need to sit back and enjoy time with my wife and visit with my [two] kids when it’s convenient and comfortable and not when I can squeeze it in,” Dow said.

Dow, 56, will continue to coach the Chatsworth girls’ team and plans to remain the City Section boys’ volleyball coordinator along with Sylmar Coach Bob Thomson.

“I’d definitely say he’s the dean of the coaches in the Valley,” Thomson said. “His knowledge of the game and background will surely be missed.

“But I can understand why he’s doing it. It takes a lot out of you to do both the girls and the boys.”

Chatsworth’s season ended in a three-game loss to Monroe on Tuesday night in the City Championship semifinals.

Dow, who moved from Birmingham to Chatsworth in 1995, will be replaced by second-year assistant Greg Saltzberg. Saltzberg was the setter for Chatsworth in 1990, when it advanced to the City championship match.

“I’m sure I will [miss it] next spring,” Dow said. “But I feel that side of the program will be in good hands with Greg. Even though he’s young, he has a good knowledge of the game and its psychology.”

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The tradition of the headband keeps thriving at Alemany.

Every year since 1993, the same headband has been worn during match warmups by the Alemany captain, which this year is senior setter Richard Nelson.

“It means everything to me right now,” Nelson said. “Alemany volleyball is my life and [the headband] is a physical representation of Alemany.”

Nelson, who has signed with UCLA, said the headband has never been washed.

“It’s a little raggedy, but it works,” he said.

The headband was first worn by Ariel Bernardo in 1993 and has been passed to, among others, Times’ all-region setter Charles Zufelt in 1995 and current Cal State Northridge defensive specialist Pat Lufrano in 1996.

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Calabasas has finally ended its tumultuous past.

The Coyotes, who once lost 58 consecutive matches, qualified for the playoffs for the first time, defeating Bishop Diego in a one-match playoff last week.

“It’s a long time having not made it,” said fourth-year Coach Dave Arone.

The Coyotes (8-9) travel Friday to Culver City for a first-round match in the Southern Section Division II playoffs.

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Kennedy played Monroe and Taft this season, giving Golden Cougars’ Coach Mike Stanton some insight into who might win the City Championship on Friday.

“I’d say Monroe is the stronger defensive team, but Taft, with [opposite hitter] Mike Gledhill, definitely has a little more offensive punch,” Stanton said. “It’ll come down to whoever makes less errors. To be honest, it’s a flip of the coin. I really don’t see one team running through the other team.”

Top-seeded Monroe (16-0) defeated No. 2 Taft (14-1) in five games in a nonconference match earlier this season.

“Monroe has the psychological edge in that they beat them,” Stanton said. “Whether that carries over, we’ll have to see.”