Desguin resigns his post
Rick Devereux
Joel Desguin has resigned as Newport Harbor High baseball coach after
four years at the helm.
Desguin said his schedule as an elementary school teacher, which
keeps him occupied until 3 p.m., conflicted with the his coaching
schedule, which began with a class at 1:30. He said he was on the
verge of resigning in September.
“For the last four years, I have been able to work around my
schedule to get over [to Newport Harbor] to coach baseball,” he said.
“Assistant coaches have been working the baseball class for free
until I was able to get there.”
Desguin, who teaches at Mariners and Kaiser, compiled a 33-67
record through four years, including a 13-12 campaign in 2004 when
the Tars went 7-7 in the Sea View League and fell one victory shy of
advancing to the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs. Newport
Harbor last made the playoffs in 1990.
Desguin said the Newport-Mesa Unified School District approved a
plan that would have allowed Desguin to work at the elementary
schools until noon, then begin his duties at Newport Harbor.
Desguin, however, said Newport Harbor administrators told him via
an e-mail that no openings were available.
Newport Harbor officials were unavailable for comment.
“With the contract I had, it got to the point where I knew
something was going to have to happen,” he said. “It wasn’t fair for
the elementary kids and it wasn’t fair for the high school kids.”
Desguin said he is disappointed to leave a program he believes is
on the upswing. The Sailors went 12-38 in his first two years as head
coach and 21-29 his last two.
“The number of kids has gone up every year. This year was the most
we’ve had in a long time,” he said. “I feel sorry for the kids and
parents and boosters. It has kind of been a revolving door with the
baseball program. [Coach Jeff] Brinkley has been with the football
program for [20 years]. [Coach Larry] Hirst has been with the
basketball program for [10 years]. There isn’t a whole lot of
continuity with the baseball program.
“I met with the kids and explained about why [I was resigning],”
Desguin said. “I’ve had most of these kids when they were in
elementary school, so I know them and their parents very well.”
Desguin said he will still hold his youth baseball camps at
Newport Harbor High, with the first session beginning Monday.
Desguin said assistant coach Evan Chalmers will take over the
summer baseball duties for the Sailors.
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