Coming home ...

In nine days former Estancia High and Orange Coast College

basketball coach Tim O’Brien has a projected return to home ... home,

as it feels to be on the hardwoods of a court at Northwood High.

“We’re hoping to see him in attendance at our Irvine World News

Tournament,” said Northwood Athletic Director Rick Curtis. “We know

he’s eager to be back and feeling better.”

Northwood, a Pacific Coast League power which is clearly the

nemesis which Corona del Mar must deal with, is presently being

coached by O’Brien’s assistants, Kenny Keup and Derek Roche.

The Timberwolves will host Fountain Valley at 7:30 p.m. in the

tournament opener.

O’Brien, 48, was Estancia’s basketball coach for five years and

enjoyed remarkable success, winning a CIF State championship and a

CIF Southern Section crown, among other things within a 110-42

record.

He tried the community college level at Orange Coast for seven

years, but his heart was with the preps, and he returned to begin the

Northwood program, posting a 44-12 record over two years.

One of the most popular coaches to grace the prep scene, O’Brien

underwent a six-hour heart surgery in late October and has been on a

steady mend since.

“Nothing’s going to be rushed,” said Curtis. “Our present coaches

will finish out the season and then we’ll see where we are.”

They have their timetable, but I like to be first: “Welcome back.”

Corona del Mar High basketball boosters have come up with novel

approach to improve attendance, offering live music, food and two

free Lakers tickets to someone at their home games. Considering the

Lakers’ victory Friday night, the timing seems perfect.

A winning streak, of course, would also help.

So where does Estancia High football go at this point, with the

resignation of Coach Jay Noonan?

The Eagles suffered to the tune of 1-18 on the field the past two

years, but despite the record, there were improvements.

Left in the wake of Noonan’s resignation was a solid staff of

on-campus assistant coaches Mark Rodig and Scott Wilke, and offensive

coordinator Ernst Bucher and another assistant, Josh Tribe.

All of them are potential returnees under a coach the Eagles hope

to find in reasonable time.

“We’re flying the position immediately,” said Estancia Boys

Athletic Director Tim Parsel.

“We want a coach with head coaching experience and we hope to make

a decision by the end of January. That’s the ideal ...”

Jay Noonan was a man who possessed great passion for the game and

his Eagles.

I don’t think anyone can deny him that, regardless of on-field

success, or lack of, and many wish Jay Noonan the best.

Costa Mesa High boys soccer coach Eugene Day, sometimes known as

Sharon and Jasmin’s dad, has been set down with a 40-day suspension

by “Costa Mesa” for coaching a girls club soccer team.

Just exactly what does girls soccer and boys soccer have in

common?

Aside from “Goal .......,” which announcers like to spew out, and

shoe, ball and save, I can think of only two other four-letter words

that relate: Zero, and none.

And just so you know, it’s not Costa Mesa handing down this unjust

penalty.

CIF demands the schools do the dirty work CIF dictates, so no one

can take CIF to court for its stupid decisions.

It’ll be a good day when Eugene returns to the sidelines Jan. 22

in Golden West League play at Santa Ana.