The Lady Panthers clawed their way through an intense first-round CIF game against Alta Loma High School Feb. 22 at the Pioneer Valley High School gym—without the leadership of their head coach, Brian Hook. The team lost 55-57, adding to the heartache already generated by a recent incident involving Hook, 53, and the Santa Maria Police Department.
Police announced in a Feb. 20 press release that officers arrested Hook—who also worked as a social science teacher at the school—on suspicion of sexually assaulting a minor.
According to the department, Santa Maria Joint Unified School District personnel told law enforcement on Feb. 19 that sexual assault allegations had been made against the teacher, whom Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Tracy Marsh called “apparently well liked.”
Marsh told the Sun that principal Shanda Herrera contacted authorities immediately about an allegedly inappropriate relationship between Hook and a student after someone anonymously brought it to her attention.
“Our main concern is that the students we have on campus feel safe,” Marsh said, adding that incidents like this are something “you hope ... never happens to your district, but unfortunately it did.”
Police said the alleged assaults occurred over the last four months. The name of the alleged victim is being withheld for privacy and safety reasons.
According to the department, officers arrested Hook the morning of Feb. 20 at his home in Orcutt, where they also served a search warrant. Authorities also used the SMPD crime lab in the searches of several other locations.
The District Attorney’s Office charged Hook with four felony counts: two of oral copulation of a minor, one count of unlawful intercourse with a minor, and one count of sexual penetration of a minor.
Detective Paul Van Meel told the Sun the department has “nothing to indicate that [the assault allegation] has anything to do with his position with the basketball team.”
Added Marsh, “Of course, it’s ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ It’s still a man’s reputation we’re talking about. And, of course, our hearts go out to those affected by [the incident]—the students, parents, and the basketball team.”
He said the school is offering counseling services to anyone who needs to talk.
Hook is scheduled to appear in court again on Feb. 28.
