HS BASE: Mutz says switch to Chaminade money motivated

Caught up with coach Frank Mutz just a moment ago, a few hours after the shocking news broke that he was leaving Thousand Oaks to take the Chaminade job.

I guess it's surprising for any coach to leave when they're so successful -- Mutz was 66-24 over three seasons at Thousand Oaks -- but in Mutz's case it's a bit of a jolt because his last foray into private-school coaching at Oaks Christian didn't go so well, as he told me he was uncremoniously fired.

But the Chaminade job is a better gig financially.

"Well, it's a full-time job, and that's why I took it -- for financial reasons," Mutz said. "I have four daughters. ... It's a hard thing to do to leave Thousand Oaks. I've enjoyed myself here, and they've treated me well here."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com