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.