CONK'S CAREER TAKES A NEW TWIST; FIRED FROM THE MASTER'S, HE LANDS AS CANYON GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL COACH.

Byline: Patrick Hipes Daily News Staff Writer

Dean Conk is back.

Less than nine months ago, Conk was fired from The Master's College after nine seasons as the Mustangs women's volleyball coach, this after leading his squads to an average of 23 wins each year.

Now, with the help of some old friends, former Master's assistant Spencer MacCuich and Canyon High School girls' athletic director Ardyce Masters, Conk accepted the girls' volleyball job with the Cowboys last Tuesday.

And he hasn't missed a bump, set or spike.

``I was always optimistic,'' Conk said. ``You can only have control over things that are ahead of you. I'll always bloom where I'm planted.''

Conk said his faith in his coaching abilities never wavered after he was called into the office of The Master's athletic director Bill Oates on Jan. 27, and told he was being relieved of both his coaching and teaching duties at the Santa Clarita school.

However, the move came as a shock to most. In his nine years, Conk accumulated a 210-146 record. His release prompted Christian Heritage coach Dennis Palpallatocto say the school had slit its wrists.

``It was a difference in philosophy,'' said MacCuish, a former Conk assistant who attends the same church. ``It wasn't that he was sleeping with players or embezzling money from the program. There was no huge issue that came up.''

For his part, Conk has no bad feelings for his old school.

``It's like eating ice cream,'' he said. ``You just want it to last forever. I do miss the people. It was just a real good time.''

Added MacCuish: ``Dean has a very healthy perspective on that. He understands that God is in control, and he just wants to live his life by pleasing God.''

In July, the college hired Karen Patterson from a school in Missouri.

Oates declined comment on this story.

Out of a job, Conk circulated his resume to Cal State Bakersfield and Santa Clara. At the same time, MacCuish was feeling a bit overwhelmed at Canyon, where he was coaching both the boys' and girls' teams.

``I started thinking about (bringing Conk in as the girls' coach) in the spring and ended up pursuing him in the summer,'' MacCuish said.

Said Conk: ``I said, `If you have a need, I'd like to help out.' Ardyce called on Monday and asked if I could start that night.''

He did. And on Tuesday, he started a job teaching pre-algebra at Fillmore High School.

``I'm real excited,'' Conk said. ``As a coach, you get a real enjoyment and satisfaction out of coaching. I would really miss it, and I wanted to get back as soon as I could.''

The situation is perfect for Conk and his family, which resides in Canyon Country. He drives the 40 minutes to Fillmore and then back to Canyon for a three-hour practice each weekday, and is close enough for his daughter Jennifer to attend Valencia, where she is a freshman.

While a college job would be ideal careerwise, Conk remains content and confident that he has found a new home.

``I felt that my family was more important than my career right now,'' he said. ``I wanted to stay in the area. I want to go to a place where I could stay forever, so I'll stay here until they kick me out.''