A new chapter begins for the girls’ basketball program at Calabasas High School as longtime coach Jay Werner steps in as head coach, bringing more than three decades of experience to the team.

Werner’s coaching resume spans over 30 years at both the high school and junior college levels. He began at Polytechnic High School, where he led the boys’ varsity team for a decade and captured the L.A. City Divisional Championship in 1999. He was an assistant coach for Calabasas’ boys team and worked closely with the girls program, making him a familiar and trusted figure for returning players.

The girls’ basketball team shared their opinions on the new announcement.

“I was pretty excited,” said junior Jasmine Guyton. “I’ve had him before in my freshman year as an assistant coach, and I just know that he’s a good coach. He knows what he’s doing.”

Freshman Jayda Guyton emphasized the comfort of having a coach who already understands the program and its players.

“I was very relieved that it’s someone we know,” Jayda said. “He has a very good attitude, and I am really excited for this season.”

Players also point to Werner’s ability to recognize and develop potential as one of his strongest qualities. 

Jasmine commented on her early days on varsity as a freshman under the leadership of Jay Werner.

“I wasn’t the best yet, but I feel like he always saw my potential and pushed me to become better,” Jasmine said.

Jayda shared a similar experience from even earlier in her basketball journey.

“When I was in seventh grade, he let me practice with him and really saw that I had potential for the future,” Jayda said. “That’s what makes him a really good coach.”

As the team prepares for the upcoming season, excitement is spreading beyond just a few players. According to Jasmine, the energy is shared across the roster.

“As a team, we’re pretty excited,” she said. “Some of the girls already know him, and others are new, but overall it’s mutual; everyone is hoping this season will be better than last year.”

Despite the coaching change, players believe the team’s core identity will remain intact.

“We’ve had a different coach every year,” Jasmine noted. “But we always come together. It doesn’t really matter who coaches us. We are still a team.”

Looking ahead, both players expressed hopes not just for wins, but for long-term growth and stronger team unity. Jasmine, approaching her senior year, hopes to leave behind a foundation for younger players, including her sister.

“I hope we start becoming better, winning more games, and growing as a team,” she said. “Not just for me, but for the younger girls too.”

Jayda added that improved chemistry will be just as important as performance on the court.

“I hope this season is more organized and that we bond better,” she said. “Last year had a lot of drama, so hopefully we can come together as a family, not just a team.”

For Werner, that vision aligns perfectly with his coaching practices. He aims to build a program centered on growth, discipline, and connection, one where players feel supported, and the community feels proud.

With experience, familiarity, and player trust already in place, the Coyotes’ girls basketball team heads into the new season with something it hasn’t always had in recent years: stability and a strong belief in what’s ahead.