Bishop Manogue removed the interim tag and named Teresa Burrows as the school’s new athletic director this spring, and one of her first acts was hiring a new girls basketball coach: Jason Westphal.
She also named Sofia Anxo-McHugh as the Miners volleyball coach.
Westphal: ‘Support and teamwork, both on and off the court’
Westphal started his collegiate basketball career as a player at nationally ranked West Valley Junior College, he then transferred to Santa Clara on a full-ride basketball scholarship for two seasons, 2000-01 and 2001-02.
He is entering his eighth year of coaching at the Amateur Athletic Union/club level. Westphal has worked as a juvenile probation officer for Washoe County for 19 years.
“My main goal as head coach is to help our Miner student-athletes understand the importance of support and teamwork, both on and off the court,” Westphal said in a news release. “Basketball is a sport where everyone must work hard and come together as a solid team unit in order to achieve their goals. I strive to provide a positive environment that is centered around accountability and the Bishop Manogue mission, and I look forward to the journey ahead.”
He replaces Sarah Schopper-Ramirez, who was fired after leading the Miners to the state championship last season. She was dismissed by Manogue president Matthew Schambari, whom she had recorded telling her to not play the minority kids as much.
Schambari has been on leave since the incident was reported in March. The school diocese has an outside investigator looking into the case and it is expected to release its findings later this summer.
Schopper plans to file a lawsuit over the incident, but told the RGJ it is a long process.
“My attorney wants to make sure we do all steps before filing,” she wrote to the RGJ. “I do plan on filing. It is just a process.”
Familiar roles for Burrows, Anxo-McHugh
Burrows joined the Bishop Manogue staff in 2022 where she acted as the dean of students for juniors and seniors. Prior to Manogue, she was Galena’s athletic director for 11 years and assistant principal for 10 years where she oversaw athletics. She coached for 32 years as head coach for volleyball and softball, and was an assistant basketball coach.
Anxo-McHugh, who is a science teacher at Bishop Manogue, is a former Miner volleyball player who was part of the team when the Miners won the state championship in 2008. She was the head volleyball coach in the 2022 season.
Anxo-McHugh is returning to the Miners sideline as coach after taking last year off for her wedding.