In a move that sent shockwaves throughout Arizona and national high school basketball circles, longtime St. Mary’s High School basketball Head Coach Damin Lopez announced his resignation Monday, bringing an end to a remarkable 21-year run with one of the state’s most storied basketball programs.
Lopez, who spent more than two decades helping build and sustain the St. Mary’s basketball tradition, released a statement on social media thanking the school, administration, players, families, alumni and supporters who played a role in the program’s success throughout his tenure. The announcement came as a surprise to many throughout the basketball community, particularly given the tremendous success the program has enjoyed in recent seasons and the talented roster expected to return next year.
Lopez’s connection to St. Mary’s extends far beyond his time as Head Coach. Over the course of (21) seasons, he served both as an assistant coach under his father, legendary coach David Lopez, and later as the Head Coach of the Knights program. Together, the father-son duo helped establish St. Mary’s as one of Arizona’s premier basketball programs and one of the most respected programs in the western United States. Lopez also was a former Division-I assistant coach where he coached for numerous years for Pepperdine University, and today is still regarded as one of the best players to ever grace the Arizona basketball hardwood as a player. Lopez redefined the Arizona record books as a superstar guard for Apollo High School in the late 1980's, and his ability to develop players over the years helped past NBA players such as Jerryd Bayless and Channing Frye develop into NBA performers, and also the recent development of superstar Cam Williams, who recently signed with Duke University and will play this fall for the Blue Devils.
I caught up with Damin Lopez this week to discuss his decision, and he explained that family played a major role in his choice to step away from coaching. According to Lopez, the decision was not driven by another coaching opportunity or a desire to pursue another position. Instead, it was the result of a desire to spend more time with his family and children after dedicating much of the last two decades to coaching and building the St. Mary’s basketball program.
The demands and challenges that accompany coaching high school basketball in today’s environment continue to grow, and after (21) years at St. Mary’s, Lopez felt he had accomplished what he set out to do and wanted to focus his attention on family life, before determining what his next chapter may hold. At this time, Lopez has not announced any future coaching plans and indicated he will spend time with his family before deciding what opportunities he may pursue moving forward.
His departure leaves behind an enormous legacy. St. Mary’s enters the offseason coming off back-to-back appearances in State Championship games. The Knights captured the 4A State Championship in 2025, and followed that accomplishment with a runner-up finish in the Open Division State Championship this past season.
The program is also expected to return one of the most talented rosters in Arizona basketball next season. With several high-level prospects already committed to the program, including several recent transfers, St. Mary’s is widely expected to once again be among the favorites to compete for a State Championship. As a result, the coaching vacancy immediately becomes one of the most attractive openings in Arizona high school basketball.
School officials are expected to begin the search for a new head coach immediately, and there is little doubt that the position will generate significant interest from coaching candidates throughout Arizona and beyond.
While the future of the program now becomes the focus, the lasting impact of Damin Lopez should not be overlooked. For more than two decades, he helped shape countless student-athletes, built lasting relationships throughout the basketball community, and continued the tradition established by his father. Together, Damin and David Lopez transformed St. Mary’s into one of Arizona’s elite basketball programs and a destination for high-level talent.
As St. Mary’s begins a new chapter, Damin Lopez leaves knowing he helped build one of the most successful and respected programs in Arizona basketball history. On behalf of our Arizona Preps' staff, congratulations to Damin Lopez on an outstanding coaching career at St. Mary’s High School, and best wishes to him and his family as they begin the next chapter of their journey.
