John Muir Hall of Famer Joe Peron Loses 20-Year Coaching Job After Conference Verifies PCC Violated Recruiting Rules

Pasadena City College announced that due to a verified violation of recruiting by-laws within the South Coast Conference, Joe Peron has been relieved as head coach of the women’s basketball program for the 2015-2016 season.

A replacement for Peron for the next season will be selected in the near future. Peron will continue his position as a tenured professor in kinesiology for the 2015-2016 academic year.

Peron had coached 20 seasons as Pasadena City College women’s basketball head coach.

Peron’s job as a head coach at PCC brought him recognition. He directed the Lancers to the 2009 state championship, the first team state title in the college’s women’s sports history. Peron coached six South Coast Conference champion squads as well as lead Pasadena to three state final games in 2004, 2005, and ’09.

In 2012, Peron was inducted into the John Muir High School Alumni Hall of Fame.

PCC Assistant Superintendent/Senior Vice-President of Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Robert H. Bell said that PCC was made aware of possible violations of the CCCAA recruiting by-laws by the conference.

Upon review and determination that at least one recruiting violation occurred, the SCC called upon the college to examine its coaching structure and to take affirmative steps to ensure strict compliance with state by-laws.

In response, PCC determined “to evaluate the women’s basketball coaching structure while under different leadership to ensure that PCC students continue to reap the rewards and benefits of participating in organized team sports at the collegiate level,” a college press release said.

Dr. Bell explained, “PCC must not risk conference sanctions for violation of by-laws. That would penalize student athletes in the women’s basketball program, and potentially conference competition in all of the intercollegiate sports at the college. This would be heartbreaking and unfair to our students for whom athletic competition is an important part of their collegiate experience.”