Joan Carlisle

Bryce Alderton

Speaking on her last day at Estancia High as a teacher and coach

after 37 years at the school, Joan Carlisle didn’t show any signs she

was shedding a tear or stumbling through words like a person is when

emotions can take over.

Of course, no one knows what she feels inside except her, but she

answered each of my questions politely and with professionalism,

providing proof she holds the Eagle red and gold dear to her heart.

The 60-year-old Costa Mesa resident thought about retiring as a

physical education teacher and track and field coach after next year,

but the desire to spend more time with husband Dave, a former

Estancia basketball coach, and enjoy time fishing this nation’s

waters tugged at Carlisle’s heart and she decided to call it quits.

“I’m excited, yet sad because this is where I grew up,” Carlisle

said Thursday as she cleaned out her office and gave the last exams

to students prior to graduation ceremonies held later that day.

“Supervising graduation will be my last duty. I told the kids, ‘I

will be graduating with you.’”

The former girls track and field head coach -- who retired from

that position before last spring -- and cross country assistant

leaves Monday with David, driving to visit his family in Kentucky. It

is all part of the cross-country road trips the Carlisles have taken

the past 20 years.

“Just give me a lake with a boat in the water and I’m happy,” Joan

said when asked if there was a specific route they take.

Any mountain lake will do, away from the hustle of city life.

“It is a nice break from the zoo and Costa Mesa is a zoo,” she

said with a chuckle.

But Costa Mesa provided an teaching opportunity at Estancia for

Joan in 1966, only a year since the school opened.

“Estancia needed a synchronized swimming instructor, so I did the

shows until 1972,” she recalled. While at her alma mater -- Central

Michigan University -- where she received her bachelor’s degree in

physical education, Carlisle gained an affection for the sport.

“There were no sports for girls when I was growing up, so I did

swim shows throughout college,” she recalled.

The first girls varsity sports teams formed in 1975 -- including

track -- and Carlisle’s interest in both track and cross country

gained momentum.

“I started to work with [track and cross country] during P.E.

classes, running and doing relays, and just went into it,” she said.

“I went to clinics and learned about it through experience.”

Carlisle was the head girls track coach for 27 years.

Her girls teams went to the CIF State track and field finals in

1988 and ’89. For 13 years, she assisted Charlie Appell during the

cross country season. When spring rolled around, Carlisle

specifically taught sprinters and triple jumpers while Appell guided

the distance runners during the track season.

But Carlisle did more than just coach. She was the best at

organizing according to Appell.

“Her commitment to the kids was amazing,” Appell said. “If we

would finish practice early, we wouldn’t have to worry about

paperwork ... dealing with eligibility issues as an example. She was

always ahead of the next question you were going to ask. The school

will miss a very good educator.”

Carlisle, who earned her master’s in P.E. from Long Beach State,

was the only woman teacher in the department at Estancia the past 11

years, ever since former Athletic Director Lillian Brabander retired.

When Carlisle first started teaching, schools required students to

take four years of P.E. instead of the mandatory two they do now.

Last semester she had four classes while last fall she was in charge

of five.

“P.E. classes haven’t changed that much,” she said. “Kids learn

the importance of being active. Some either like it or hate it, but

they all have to get through it.”

Carlisle admits she is not a runner. Walking and cheering on

athletes suits her just fine.

She threw out the names Liz Huipe, Araceli Morales and Darla

Burkhart as Estancia athletes she will remember along with Century

and Sea View League championships in track in 1978 and 79,

respectively.

Carlisle saw the maturation of many athletes from their freshmen

through senior years.

“To see kids in ninth grade who have never leaped over a hurdle,

or done a triple jump, to continue their track careers in college

makes teaching a lot more interesting,” Carlisle said.

It used to be when she and David planned their trip across the

U.S. they would have to set a return date if it came too close to

school starting in the fall.

“It will be weird, I don’t know how I’m going to feel,” Carlisle

said when asked what it is going to be like without planning to

return to teach and coach at Estancia in the fall. “I know I won’t

have to race back from the East.”

A long and deserving vacation awaits.