Monterey Bay Wizards

Our Mission and Vision

Our Monterey Bay Wizards Youth Basketball Academy provides targeted skill development for all ages. Our mission is to teach, develop, maximize and inspire athletes to take their minds and their games to the next level. We strive to impact the youth by instilling discipline, determination, and leadership skills that will serve each athlete on and off the court.

We are entering our 11th Fall Basketball season in the surrounding Monterey Bay area and the Salinas Valley. Our experienced coaching staff of the Wizards will provide their basketball knowledge from their playing days in getting your child to the next level of learning to what it takes to be a Student/Athlete and to reach their basketball potential.

I have passed on my combined 38 years of head coaching high school varsity girls basketball at North Salinas and Seaside. And recently retired from being the head coach of the Hartnell Community College women’s team to my Wizards coaching staff.

The game of basketball builds character and prepares our Student/Athletes for the real life on the outside world where Discipline, Moral Values and Dedication are the three ingredients in being successful at any goal they pursue.

Our coaching staff welcomes You and Your Family to the 2025 Wizards Fall Basketball season.

Director and Founder: Jim Rimando, who has been a head coach for the past 39 years. One of longest tenure and winningest coach in the Central Coast Section.

Rimando was the Hartnell College women’s basketball recruiter and head coach for the past six years until his retirement back in 2021.

Recently, Coach Rimando was asked to come out of retirement in September 2023 to once again be the head coach of the Seaside High School Spartans varsity girls basketball program.

In 2023 season he guided the Seaside Spartans to his 24th Central Coast Section Playoff appearance.

Accomplishment

Guided the North Salinas High School Vikings girls’ varsity basketball program to the Northern California State Playoffs in 1989 Five Monterey Bay League titles and 14 years of CCS Playoff appearances Hired to be the Head Coach at Seaside High School 1999, where Coach Rimando won 9 Monterey Bay League titles and 12 Central Coast Section Playoffs Served on the Central Coast Section High School Girls’ Seeding Committee for eight years Named Coach of the Year by both Monterey Herald Salinas Californian newspaper sports writer chosen Coach of the Year in the Monterey Bay League five times by his coaching peers.

Mission Statement: To pass my 39 years of coaching experience to our prospective Wizards players. And to my Wizards coaching staff. My passion is basketball and for future Student/Athletes of our community.

Our Organizational Goal:

1) To Get Your Child to the Next Level in terms of his/her basketball skills.

2) To build Character. Camaraderie, Cohesiveness and Team Trust.

3) Sportsmanship with Honor

4) Learn from Losing as well as Winning.

We are the wizards - We are family - And we win and lose as a team

Remember: “How You Practice Is How You Will Play in the Game”