Boys soccer: Tars’ Esparza resigns

NEWPORT BEACH - Kevin Esparza, who coached the Newport Harbor High

boys soccer team this past season to its first CIF Southern Section

playoff victory since 1997, has resigned to accept an assistant coaching

position at UC Riverside.

Esparza guided the Sailors to a 10-8-2 record in his only season at

the helm. The campaign ended with a 4-0 defeat to top-seeded Los Alamitos

in the CIF Division II second round.

The Sailors defeated Santa Ana Valley, 2-0, in the first round, after

contending for the Sea View League title into the final week of the

regular season.

Newport Harbor Boys Athletic Director Eric Tweit said he hopes to hire

a new coach before the end of the school year. Interested applicants may

contact Tweit at (949) 515-6308.

-- by Barry Faulkner