Carney resigns post at Costa Mesa High

Roger Carlson

COSTA MESA - John Carney, a fixture with the coaching staff at

Costa Mesa for the past 33 years, resigned last week, citing staffing

decisions made in September as the “straw that broke the camel’s back.”

The staffing decision stemmed around an additional period in the

physical education department, as opposed to a “coaching period.”

Although the Mustangs have a new principal in Bob Evans, Carney said

he did not pursue the change. “I just decided to let it go,” he said.

The Mustangs are presently seeking to fill the void left in track and

field and Athletic Director Kirk Bauermeister said the opening has a

potential for a teaching opening.

Those interested should contact Bauermeister at (714) 424-8763.

“I just felt that if it wasn’t important to them, than it wasn’t

important to me,” said Carney, who resides in Huntington Beach with his

wife, Su, was the Mustangs’ head track coach for the past 22 seasons, and

had coached the girls for six years before that. He was also the head

cross country coach and was a longtime assistant football coach,

including two years when he co-coached the Mustangs’ varsity with Jim

Hagey.

His departure comes at a time when the girls program has never

appeared stronger, with junior Sharon Day and a bevy of talent around her

on the roster.

He said he hasn’t determined if and when he will conclude his teaching

capacity at Costa Mesa.

Nor was he able to define his role in the football program.

“Really, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said.