Funeral Services Set Thursday for Costa Mesa Basketball Coach

COSTA MESA — Funeral services for Costa Mesa boys’ basketball Coach Jason Ferguson will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Pacific Coast Church, 2651 Calle Frontera, San Clemente.

Viewing will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Ray Family Mortuary, 1533 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. Private burial is planned at Forest Lawn in Los Angeles.

Several tributes to Ferguson are in the planning stages, according to Costa Mesa basketball booster club President Matt Montoya.

A scholarship fund in the coach’s name is expected to be established by the school, Costa Mesa Athletic Director Jerry Howell said. The scholarship idea was the first topic discussed Monday at a regularly scheduled meeting of Pacific Coast League principals and athletic directors.

Laguna Beach Athletic Director Greg Marshall said the Artists expect to have a moment of silence in honor of Ferguson before Friday’s game with Costa Mesa, the first game to be played since Ferguson died at age 24, early Sunday.

Ferguson, one of the youngest head coaches in Orange County history, died of Wilm’s tumor, a rare cancer that attacks the kidneys.

Assistant Coach Criss Freeman, Ferguson’s roommate and close friend, will coach the Mustangs for the remainder of the season, Howell said. Monday afternoon Freeman held the team’s first practice since Ferguson’s death.

“Everything is OK. I’m handling it as good as I can. We’ll just try to continue on,” Freeman said.

Montoya, whose son, Mike, plays for the Mustangs, said the booster club plans to raise as much as $5,000 to pay for the funeral. At the time of his death, Ferguson had medical expenses totaling $30,000. The Costa Mesa girls’ basketball team has pledged $1,000 from a recent fund-raiser. Earlier in the season, the Laguna Beach boys’ basketball team held a free-throw shooting contest and donated $1,000 to Ferguson.

Donations can be sent in care of Larry Carlson, assistant principal, Costa Mesa High, 2650 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, 92626.