King to Coach Boys’ Basketball at Monroe High

Monroe High announced Monday that Dennis King has been hired as the boys’ basketball coach.

King, who coached the Reseda varsity in 1985, replaced Wayne Fluker as the Vikings’ coach.

Fluker was tentatively hired as Monroe’s coach in May, but he was disqualified last month because he failed to pass a teachers’ proficiency test.

Fluker’s disqualification gave King, 34, a chance to coach again, and he jumped at the opportunity.

“I didn’t know where or when, but I wanted to coach again,” said King, who is teaching at Monroe after teaching at Bancroft Junior High in Hollywood for three years. “This was just too good an opportunity not to pursue.”

Although he takes over a team that finished 1-16, 0-10 in the Northwest Valley League, King is looking forward to the upcoming season.

“I’d like to win as many games as possible and make this a first-class program,” he said.