Players, parents support Perkins

Steve Virgen

With a stern voice, yet showing a saddened demeanor, Juan Diaz spoke

about his coach and told the public at Costa Mesa High that Dave

Perkins should be the coach of the Mustangs’ football team.

Diaz, who will be a junior at Costa Mesa High, pleaded, “Why,” and

supported his football coach during a meeting Monday night that was

intended to let the community ask questions that have surfaced in the

wake of Perkins’ firing that was learned Friday.

Diaz, who emotionally spoke in support of his coach, looked

directly at Costa Mesa Principal Fred Navarro and said, “Why did you

fire our coach?”

Navarro apologized and said he would not be able to tell him

because it was a personnel matter.

“It’s our right to know,” said Diaz, who spoke for the team during

the meeting that included about 25 players, 20 parents, Navarro,

Assistant Principal Kirk Bauermeister and Perkins.

Perkins did not address parents at the meeting because he said he

was advised by his lawyers not to speak of his dismissal in public.

Perkins said Friday he was fired because of a misunderstanding with

school administration over a check from a summer football camp that

was mistakenly made out to him. Perkins said the check was intended

for the school’s booster program.

“On all matters we cannot speak on the reasons for the integrity

of the school and the rights of the coach, even if the story is

one-sided,” Navarro said when pressed to give his side of the story.

On Monday, Perkins, who is seeking legal action against the

school, told his players he asked the principal if he could coach one

final season and resign afterward, but Navarro refused.

Diaz was distraught over that news and he said he was devastated

to be without Perkins with the season starting five weeks from

Thursday (Sept. 2 against Brea Olinda).

“Everybody wants him back,” said Diaz, a reserve offensive lineman

last year who has improved in workouts during the summer to the point

he has earned consideration for a starting role, Perkins said in a

June story about spring football. Diaz, who, just as most players and

parents, discovered his coach was fired when he read the Daily Pilot

Saturday, said he has considered transferring, but is not sure what

to do.

Ryan French, a quarterback entering his junior year, said he does

not plan to transfer. But he, along with the rest of the players in

attendance, said he wanted Perkins to come back, which is unlikely to

happen.

Still, Costa Mesa boosters president Jack Carich formed Monday’s

meeting to, “clear the air,” and to gain support from parents. They,

along with the parents, plan to question the district today, via

e-mails in their quest to reinstate Perkins as coach.

Aside from bringing a new coach, parents and players were also

concerned for what to do next. A parent asked Navarro if the players

should still show up Aug. 18, when practice begins, if there is no

coach.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Navarro said.

After the meeting, Navarro spoke briefly with the media.

“The life lesson [the players] are getting here, is that not all

things go as planned,” Navarro said. “When difficulties come your

way, you have to overcome them. That’s the real lesson here. I hope

they will grow as individuals and persevere and succeed.”

Navarro said they would make the announcement to the Newport-Mesa

Unified School District of the opening Monday, which angered a few

parents, who wanted the advertisement to go out immediately.