Holland to join Eagles

Former Corona del Mar High football coach Dave Holland is expected to join the Estancia coaching staff, the school’s principal, Phil D’Agostino, told the Daily Pilot Wednesday.

The longtime CdM and Laguna Beach coach just finished his second season as defensive coordinator at Long Beach Wilson. He will be the Eagles’ defensive coordinator on head coach Mike Bargas’ staff of seven.

Bargas was defensive coordinator in 2007, his first year at Estancia. Now he’ll coordinate the offense with assistant Justin Dale. Bargas said he expects to name Holland assistant head coach.

“We are happy to announce that Dave is working through paperwork so that he will be with us,” D’Agostino said. “We’re anticipating that that’s going to fly right through. We’re excited to have someone of his stature and experience coming on to the Estancia football staff.”

Bargas and Holland are practically family. Holland’s longtime girlfriend is the mother of Bargas’ wife. Holland also coached against Newport Harbor when Bargas played there.

“I said if he ever got a head coaching job, I’d really like to work with him,” Holland said. “At the time he got it, I was still committed to Long Beach Wilson.” Holland expects he’ll begin attending staff meetings in January, and he’s had the opportunity to watch a couple of Estancia game tapes. The Eagles were 5-6 this season, and lost, 24-6, to Irvine in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs.

“I thought I saw a good performance,” Holland said. “The product looks good. The defense looks sound and the running game looks good. That’s a good start.”

Holland started as an assistant at CdM in 1964, then took over as head coach from 1967-1975. He returned and coached from 1983 to 1993.

In 20 years, Holland amassed a record of 106-92-10 and led the Sea Kings to two CIF Southern Section titles in Division IV and VI.

Athletes have become bigger, stronger, and faster since he first began coaching, and they’re more savvy, too. But not everything changes. According to Holland, high school football is still the quickest way for a boy to become a “stud.”

“It’s one of the only rites of passage we still have left in America,” Holland said. “Football especially because of the contact and the courage it takes to do it.”

SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or at soraya.mcdonald@latimes.com.