Theiler

A community college district summarily terminated the employment of a basketball coach. The district claimed the coach was not entitled to due process because he was a temporary employee. During the coach’s employment, Education Code section 87482.5, former subdivision (a) defined a temporary employee as one who is employed to teach classes “for not more than 60 percent of the hours per week considered a full-time assignment for regular employees having comparable duties.” 1 The coach claimed he was employed to teach more than 60 percent of a full-time assignment. Thus he claimed he is a contract employee entitled to due process.

*855 The trial court granted the coach’s motion for summary judgment on his petition for writ of mandate. We reverse. The duties and teaching assignment of an athletic coach are not comparable to a classroom instructor.

FACTS

The Ventura County Community College District (District) employed Jeff Theiler as a basketball coach from 2004 to 2008. He served as Ventura College’s assistant basketball coach until 2007, and then as head basketball coach at Oxnard College from 2007 until his employment was terminated November 21, 2008.

Each semester…