Mike Bargas

Bryce Alderton

From the way Mike Bargas speaks about Newport Harbor High, one could

fathom the chance of his blood being that traditional dark navy

instead of red.

While that possibility is simply figurative, Bargas, the school’s

football strength and conditioning coach, leaves no stone unturned as

to where his loyalties lie.

“I love my co-workers and the kids, they keep me fired up,” said

the 31-year-old Bargas, now in his 12th year with the Sailors. “Some

programs come and go, but Newport has remained solid. [Head coach]

Jeff Brinkley has been good to me and we’ve developed quite a

friendship as a staff. We all get along so well.”

That camaraderie has resulted in a revered football tradition at

Newport Harbor, and Bargas said even if a head coaching offer were to

arise, he would definitely think twice about leaving.

“Loyalty helped me get my job and I feel like I owe [Newport]

something,” Bargas said. “It makes it so much better to get advice

from somebody and modify a workout to achieve success.”

Newport has had its share of success, winning CIF championships

and Sea View League titles in 1994 and 1999, while advancing to a CIF

final in 1992 and 2000.

Though he mainly advises football players, Bargas has begun

instructing members of the volleyball teams, sometimes as early as 6

a.m. before he strolls to his classroom on the Harbor campus to teach

health.

This time of year, Bargas usually spends at least two hours a day

with players lifting weights and conditioning, all in preparation for

spring football drills which begin in May and the fall season.

“We hit it hard all year round, there is no dead time with regard

to lifting,” Bargas said. “We don’t really take any time off. It’s an

intense time right now. We’ll go once a week on the football field

and work on plays along with speed and quickness drills.”

These workouts begin after the players return from winter break in

January and last through spring football and beyond.

“Every year is competitive, especially if we didn’t get as far as

we wanted to,” Bargas said. “You want to remain a step ahead of

everyone else.” Last season, Newport went 7-4, exiting in the first

round of the CIF Playoffs for the first time since 1993 and for only

second time in Brinkley’s 17-year tenure.

Bargas started on Newport’s offensive line his junior and senior

years and graduated in 1989 before playing at Orange Coast College

for two seasons. That’s when Brinkley came calling, asking Bargas if

he would want to be an assistant on the football staff. Just 19 at

the time, Bargas -- who attended UCI, Long Beach State and National

University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in health science -- took

the offer and hasn’t looked back.

Bargas also oversees the Tars’ summer weightlifting program, which

just two years ago produced four athletes that qualified for the

National Junior Weightlifting Championships. Three Sailors made the

top 11 of that event.

“I love going to school and look forward to seeing all the

players,” Bargas said. “There’s a chance you might be doing something

productive for their lives with the ultimate goal of going to the

playoffs and making the finals. That is what you feed off of.”

Last season, Bargas took over the offensive line after coaching on

the defensive side the previous seven years.

Tony Ciarelli, who was a key figure in producing Newport’s

offseason strength program, took over the defensive duties last

season after spending five years as Huntington Beach High’s head

coach. He is one of the many coaches Bargas has formed friendships

with. Running backs coach Bill Brown and freshman coach Joe Urban are

two others Bargas highlighted as having a positive influence on him.

“Brinkley and I will run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and we

hang out on the weekends sometimes,” said Bargas, who likes to ride

his bike, read and enjoy a good meal.

Spare time is not an easily accessible commodity for Bargas, but

that can be attributed to his own doing.

When not in the weight room or in the classroom, the Costa Mesa

resident can be found attending other Newport sporting events and

will occasionally even attend a play.

“I like to watch water polo, swimming and other things,” Bargas

said. “Sometimes I will do lunch duty to see the kids outside of the

classroom ... to make them see you’re not just a teacher but someone

they can talk to.”