Morales resigns from Laguna

Mike Sciacca

Graduation at Laguna Beach High Thursday marked the end of Mario

Morales’ tenure as athletic director and assistant football coach at

the school.

Morales has resigned from his post to accept a full-time teaching

and coaching position at Long Beach Wilson.

Morales, who lives with his family in Long Beach, will teach

physical education and assist with the Bruins’ varsity football

program as an offensive and defensive line coach, he said.

He held the same duties at Laguna Beach.

“It was nothing but a positive experience in my two years at

Laguna Beach,” said Morales who, before arriving on campus at the

start of the 2001-02 school year, previously was a substitute teacher

at Bellflower High.

His athletic director’s role at the school was his first in such a

position.

“I learned a lot on the job,” he said. “The people, faculty,

administration and kids here at Laguna were very supportive and

wonderful to work with. I’m leaving a great community.”

During Morales’ final year at Laguna Beach, the school was honored

as the Pacific Coast League’s recipient of the Kenneth Fagans-Toyota

“Shake for Sportsmanship” Award as the league school that best

demonstrated sportsmanship in athletic competition during the 2002-03

school year.

“I think that in the two years Mario was here that he really

instilled the concept of good sportsmanship with our student/athletes

and coaches,” said Nancy Blade, principal at Laguna Beach. “I’m proud

that during his time here we were awarded the CIF Kenny Fagans

sportsmanship award.

“As a part of that, I know that Mario expresses that he really

believes and strives to have student/athletes understand the

importance or respecting their teammates but equally understand the

importance of respecting their opponents.”