Hiring Larson, Ventura Makes It Family Affair

Ann Larson has been selected girls’ basketball coach at Ventura High, where she will join husband, Dan Larson, the Cougar boys’ coach.

The Larsons are believed to be the fifth husband-wife basketball coaching tandem in the Southern Section, which has more than 500 schools.

“It’s a great opportunity to show what families can do,” said Ann Larson, who succeeds Glenn Gray II.

For 12 seasons, Larson coached at rival Buena, serving as the junior varsity coach and varsity assistant. She had a career record of 205-17 and won eight league titles.

“She’ll do a great job over there,” said Coach Joe Vaughan of Buena. “Ann does a great job of teaching fundamentals and has a solid background and knowledge of the game.”

Larson is a graduate of Buena, where she helped the Bulldogs to their first state championship in 1983. She also played at Fresno State.

Larson inherits a Ventura program that finished last season ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times after going 25-2 and sharing the Channel League championship with Buena.

Several key players return from that team, including Katy O’Brien, second-team All-County point guard.