Rebels usher in new coaching duo

"They both came in at the same time for the interview and I could see they work well together," said Rivera, who hired the tandem in early May. "I asked them who would be the head coach and they said they would work together and they want to create a family environment.

"Kevin's got some head coaching experience and Jayme, with her coaching background, can serve also as the female role model."

Kiyomura served as a junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach at Garden Grove Pacifica from 1990-92 and has coached high school players in the Asian League in which Japanese-American students compete on fellowship all-star teams.

Kiyomura-Chan served as head coach for the Pasadena High girls' basketball team from 1998-2003 and as an assistant with the Pasadena City College women's basketball program from 2003-08.

Kiyomura said he pined to become a basketball coach again.

"I just wanted to get back into it and build a program," Kiyomura said. "I saw a few of Flintridge Prep's games last season and I thought it would be a perfect fit.

"I like the size of the school in that it's smaller and there's a lot of pride with basketball there."

Kiyomura-Chan, a former La Salle girls' basketball player, said she hadn't entertained the thought of returning to the coaching profession since she's got three small children to care for. However, the Flintridge Prep job possibility looked too good to dismiss.

"I couldn't do the job on my own and Kevin and I work well together," Kiyomura-Chan said. "I talked to Kevin about it and we spoke with Alex, telling him it would be a good fit both ways.

"Kevin is like a mentor to me and I'm excited that we will be able to work together. It's going to be about being able to adapt to the players we will have to coach and work within their abilities and see what the players can provide."

charles.rich@latimes.com