Jim Hagey loses battle with cancer

Tony Altobelli

Jim Hagey, a longtime coach and athletic director for Costa Mesa

High athletics, passed away Friday night after a long bout with

pancreatic cancer. He was 67.

“He’s been battling this for the past 6 1/2 years,” Jim’s widow,

Jeanne, said. “He put up a heck of a fight.”

Hagey spent 30 years with Costa Mesa, coaching the Mustangs’ football,

baseball, softball and golf programs. During that span, he was also

Mesa’s Athletic Director for 10 years.

“Jim was the rock of our school,” current coach and Athletic Director

Kirk Bauermeister said. “He was a sturdy guy, always by the books. When

our football coach stepped down, he and John Carney stepped up and did a

tremendous job.

“When we needed a softball coach, he did it,” Bauermeister continued.

“When we needed a baseball coach, he did it. When we needed a golf coach,

he did it. He was a great team player for the program. As a young coach,

he was a great example of what pattern to follow. I hope can be half as

good an athletic director and coach as he was.”

Services will take place Monday at 11 a.m. at Grace Church, 5100

Cerritos Ave. in Cypress.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Hagey’s name to the

American Cancer Society. For donation information, call (800) 227-2345.

Hagey is survived by his wife, Jeanne, and his five grown children,

Karen, Sue, Terri, Jon and Scot.