Harvard-Westlake appoints Alex Nailes as interim girls basketball coach

Harvard-Westlake will re-open a search for its permanent girls basketball coach after the 2024-25 season.

Harvard-Westlake boys basketball assistant coach will serve as the interim girls basketball coach for the 2024-25 season after longtime coach Melissa Hearlihy retired in early August. / Harvard-Westlake athletics

Harvard-Westlake has appointed boys basketball assistant coach Alex Nailes to be the interim girls basketball coach for the 2024-25 season, the school announced Thursday.

The school will re-open the search for a permanent girls basketball coach after the 2024-25 season concludes.

“Hiring a program head at Harvard-Westlake is a process that involves our entire school community,” said Terry Barnum, Head of Athletics. “We received significant interest in our girls’ basketball program head position and our candidate pool was strong. However, given the timing of the position becoming available, we did not feel we could conduct a thorough interview process and give our new coach the best chance for success this season.”

“Therefore, we are asking Dave Rebibo to serve as our interim girls basketball program head and Alex Nailes to be our interim varsity girls basketball coach for this upcoming season.”

Longtime girls basketball coach Melissa Hearlihy retired in early August after 39 seasons of coaching, and being at Harvard-Westlake since 2000. The Wolverines won the CIF State Division II crown in March.

Hearlihy announced her retirement on August 5, and the school has been searching for a replacement since. SBLive put together a compelling candidate list of SoCal coaches that could take over, but evidently, the search didn't provide a replacement the school was keen on.

So, in steps Nailes, with boys basketball head coach David Rebibo operating as the school's basketball program head.

“I’m thrilled about the chance to become the interim head coach of the girls’ basketball program.”said Alex Nailes. “I have been a supporter from the stands of these athletes for years and I’m excited to work with this team of exceptional young women and athletes. A big thank you to Terry Barnum, the athletic department, and Coach Rebibo for this amazing opportunity.”

Nailes has been an assistant coach in the boys’ basketball program since 2022. He played basketball at Lincoln University of Missouri for four years and graduated with bachelor's degrees in business marketing and computer science. Nailes coached basketball at Redondo Union, Verbum Dei and Windward, before becoming a key member of the Harvard-Westlake boys basketball staff that won two CIF State Open Division state titles the last two years.

He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in sports business at Grand Canyon University.

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