Coaching Staff

Varsity

Neal Perlmutter
​Head Coach
Overall Record:  143-74 (90-40 at Mira Costa) 

Coach Neal enters his sixth season as the Varsity Head Coach at Mira Costa basketball after holding the same position for three seasons at West Torrance.   In 2022, Coach Neal led the Mustangs to a 28-4 (9-1) overall record and a Semi-Final appearance in the Division 1.  The team also made it to the second round of the Division 1 State Tournament and captured their second Bay League title since he joined Mira Costa.  The Mustangs also won the Ocean View and PacShores non-league tournaments. 
 
In 2019, he led the Mustangs to their first Bay League Championship in over 20 seasons while advancing to the second round of the CIF Playoffs.   This season, the Mustangs bring back one starter and four returners as they strive for Bay League and CIF Championships.  
 
In 2017-18, Coach Neal led the West Warriors to a 20-8 (7-3) finish and a trip to the second round of the CIF Playoffs.  In 2016-17 Coach Neal coached the Warriors to their first ever CIF Championship as they captured the Division 4AA crown.  That season, the Warriors also won the Pioneer League Championship for the first time in 17 years.  The Warriors finished 23-9 (8-2) and advanced to the second round of the CIF Division IV State Tournament.  
 
During the 2014-15 season, Coach Neal served as a Varsity Assistant at Sonora (La Habra, CA) where the Raiders captured the 3AA CIF Championship.  From 2012 to 2014 he coached both the Frosh/Soph and Junior Varsity teams at St. Bernards and served as an Assistant Coach on the Varsity staff. From 2010-2015 Coach Neal was a club coach in the local community working with ages 13U to 17U.
 
From 2005-2015, Coach Neal worked with Marumoto Basketball Academy in Orange County as a shooting and skills coach.  A Southern California native, Coach Neal attended boarding school at Cate in Santa Barbara where he played basketball and was Captain his senior year. Coach Neal then attended Duke University where he played intramural basketball and began to closely follow the Blue Devils.  He holds an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona and lives in Manhattan Beach.  In his free time, he enjoys waterskiing, snow skiing and travel.
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Greg Sarksian
Assistant Coach

 This will be Coach Greg’s seventh season with Coach Neal’s staff and his sixth with Mira Costa.  Coach Greg focuses on guard development, ball handling and defense.  Prior to coaching high school basketball, Coach Greg coached youth teams across Los Angeles.  He a Gracie Barra studio in Tarzana, CA and is holds a purple belt in Jujitsu.  Coach Greg played varsity basketball and ran varsity track AGBU Demirdjian High School in Canoga Park, CA.  

Gordon Sutton
Assistant Coach

Gordon Sutton is a South Bay native in his seventh season with the Mira Costa coaching staff and fifth year as a Varsity Assistant.  He has been coaching basketball in Manhattan Beach over the last nine years and is lucky enough to have coached many Mustang players since they were in elementary school.  A former Redondo Union Seahawk, Coach Gordon is excited about helping Mira Costa surpass its rivals this year and in years to come.
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Neil Hyams
Assistant Coach

Coach Neal enters his fourth year on the Varsity bench at Mira Costa.  He has been coaching for over 20 years in Southern California including stints at Mira Costa High School on the girl's side (2004-2008), Cal State LA (2007-2001), Beverly Hills High School (2010-2017), Redondo Union (2018-2019), St. Bernard (2019-2021) and Manhattan Beach Middle School (1999-2002).   Coach Neal loves developing guards but is just as comfortable working with the forwards on post play.  The players appreciate his straightforward nature and good humor.   They can also count on Coach Neal – who moonlights as a magician – to breakout the occasional magic trick to keep them smiling.  

Jay Stewart
Assistant & Head Strength Coach

Coach Jay enters his sixth season on the Mustang coaching staff.  In addition to serving as an Assistant to Coach Ray for the JV team, Coach Jay also works with all levels of the program as a strength coach.  His high energy and positive mentality helps push his athletes to new heights.  Jay works at Mira Costa with special needs students and runs a clothing line, Injoi Lifestyle, in his free time.  He is also a competitive triathlete.  

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Jordin Mayes
Assistant Coach

Bio and picture coming soon!

Junior Varsity

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Ray Barnes
JV Head Coach

Coach Ray enters his sixth season on the Mustang coaching staff.  In his first season he served as the Frosh/Soph head coach.  Last year he led the Junior Varsity squad to an 27-1 overall record and a perfect 10-0 Bay League finish.  In 2021, his JV team went a perfect 28-0. Coach Ray played locally at Crenshaw High School and continued his career at Grambling State University and Cal State LA.  After college, he played briefly in Spain, Switzerland, and Germany.  Coach Ray helps set standards and provides leadership to student-athletes through his years of coaching experience in the world of competitive sports activities.  He brings his high basketball IQ, toughness and tenacity to the basketball program. 

Jim Reach
Assistant Coach

Coach Jim is entering his 3rd season on the Mustangs coaching staff and is proud of the Junior Varsity's back-to-back Bay Legue Championships. "Sometimes you kill the lion, and sometimes the lion kills you, but you never not stop HUNTING, especially as we push for a three-peat," says Coach Jim. His positive mental approach to the competition, both on and off the court and field, has contributed to his success throughout his life as a player, parent, coach, and mentor. 

Junior Varsity 2

Ali Zaidi
Assistant Coach

​Ali Zaidi is a Manhattan Beach native who is returning to Mira Costa in his first season as a coach. Coach Zaidi is a Mustang alum who played football and basketball when he attended Mira Costa. The foundation for Coach Zaidi’s coaching style is to help every athlete find their best version of themselves. Whether it’s on the court or strength and conditioning, Coach Zaidi strongly recommends an annual training program for every athlete to reach their potential. Coach Zaidi is ready to help the Mustang basketball program succeed day in and day out.

Frosh/Soph 

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Tony Altamura
Frosh/Soph Head Coach

Tony Altamura enters his 9th season as the Frosh/Soph Head Coach at Mira Costa.  Last year he led the Frosh/Soph team to a 26-2 (9-1) record and a Bay League title.  Prior to that he held the same position for three years at West Torrance High School.  Last season, Tony led the F/S team to a Bay League Championship.  Tony loves working with kids and teaching them morals and ethics to help them beyond the basketball court.  Off the court, Tony runs property management company and enjoys spending time with his family.  He’s also a diehard USC Trojan sports fan.  ​

Daniel Mosley
Assistant Coach

Coach Daniel is entering his second season on the Mustang Coaching staff. After winning a Texas UIL state championship in high school, he quickly learned how important team unity is to success.  His philosophy is to never allow small losses to hold you back but to always allow small victories to propel you forward. He strives to instill leadership, passion and integrity into the minds of the young men in the program.

Athletic Trainer

Franklin Ortiz

Franklin Ortiz has joined the Mira Costa family after 16 years of working in physical therapy. He began his journey as a PT assistant after graduating from Mount Saint Mary’s College. He attended Loma Linda University, receiving his BA in Health Science prior to graduating with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy. As a board-certified Orthopedic Specialist, Franklin has a strong passion for Sports Rehabilitation and Orthopedics. He is certified in DNS, FMS, SFMA, Movement Links Specialist and also does instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization. Franklin enjoys working with young athletes, strives to help people reach their exercise and fitness goals and is a team player.
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