Deats resigns Mesa post

Steve Virgen

Doug Deats, who guided the Costa Mesa High baseball team the past two

seasons, as well as from 1994-97, has resigned as the Mustangs’

baseball coach.

It is the fourth coaching or athletics administration resignation

in the past three months. Bob Serven, who is an assistant at Mater

Dei, resigned as boys basketball coach in April. Dave Perkins

resigned as boys athletic director last week. Glenn Mitchell stepped

down as boys and girls track and field coach, Perkins said.

Deats said he enjoys coaching, but he wanted to spend more time

with his family and chose to resign.

“It was just time,” Deats said. “Two years ago, I really didn’t

want the job. Circumstances happened when [former coach Kirk

Bauermeister resigned to become assistant principal]. They needed

someone and I chose to do it. At that point, I was just fine being a

dad. I have to pick my own kids over baseball. My two little ones

[4-year-old twins] will be playing soccer and T-ball. And, I have a

9-year-old. There was just no way I could do it. There is no time I

could put in with my kids, at least as a head coach.”

Deats, a Costa Mesa alumnus, said he will continue to teach at the

school. He said he also plans to volunteer or coach the sports teams

his children will play on.

Deats coached the Mustangs to a 10-16 record in 2003. Costa Mesa

finished 4-8 in the Pacific Coast that year. This past spring, the

Mustangs finished 13-11 and 7-4 in the PCL for a fourth-place finish

in league.

“The school administration was great,” Deats said. “They were very

good people to work for. The parents were outstanding for both years,

too.”

Deats also coached for two seasons at Estancia and received

Newport-Mesa District Coach of the Year honors in 2000 and 2001.

Deats’ Estancia teams were 15-33-1, but he was known for getting the

most out of a program that struggled to attract athletes. He resigned

three games into the Eagles season in the spring of 2002, but said he

was eager to resume coaching at Costa Mesa when he took the job two

years ago.

He said he enjoys teaching at Costa Mesa.

“I would like to finish my teaching career there,” Deats said. “I

still really care about [the baseball team]. Down the road I would

not mind being involved with athletics.”

Deats guided the Mustangs to back-to-back appearances in the CIF

Southern Section playoffs, a first in school history, before stepping

down with a 42-56 record, spanning four season in his first stint

with Costa Mesa.

Bauermeister said the school will open the position and field

interviews in the coming weeks. Deats recommended Dave Austin, who

served as the pitching coach with Deats, to succeed him. Austin is

also a Costa Mesa alumnus.