Mesa’s Bagwell back on scene

Ryan Bagwell always thought he would like to coach volleyball. He just had no idea it would be this soon.

Bagwell, 20, was a senior on the 2006 Costa Mesa High volleyball team that went to the CIF Southern Section Division III championship match, under Chris Komer. It was the farthest a Costa Mesa boys’ team had ever gone in the volleyball postseason. The Mustangs lost to Santa Monica in four games after winning their first league title.

Now in his second year at Orange Coast College, Bagwell elected to forgo playing volleyball for the Pirates to coach the Mustangs boys’ team this year. He’s the team’s fourth coach in as many years.

“It’s definitely different on the opposite side of the court,” Bagwell said. “There’s a different mental outlook. You’re explaining what you used to do.”

Junior outside hitter Ben Lefebvre has the unique experience of now being coached by his former teammate. When Bagwell was playing, the Mustangs could count on him for double-digit kills, and sometimes double-digit aces, Komer said.

“He was the constant leader on the team,” Komer said. “He was the rock. He knew when to lead by example and when to speak up and talk with motivation. He’s going to be a great coach. He’s well-organized. He’s well thought-out with what he has to say. He has a great character.”

Now, Bagwell’s expected to tell his team how to do the same thing. Lefebvre said the team had some dust-ups last year with Coach Gray Bailey, who was around the same age as Bagwell.

Bailey was charged with filling the enormous shoes of the 29-year-old Komer, who left after he couldn’t get a teaching position at Costa Mesa.

After going undefeated in league the year before, Lefebvre said, the losing was difficult to swallow. The Mustangs finished third in the Orange Coast League last season with a record of 3-6.

“We need to keep our morale high this season,” Lefebvre said. “I think that’s something we had trouble with last season. I think there was a little bit of selfishness last season and discontent with our coach. It was hard having to adapt to a younger coach after Chris Komer.”

However, Lefebvre doesn’t see that problem arising because of Bagwell’s youth, and so far, the neophyte coach hasn’t experienced any problems, either.

“Because of our successful year in 2006, most of the guys have a lot of respect for him because of his success of on that team and because he knows what he’s talking about,” Lefebvre said. “He’s a lot different from last year’s coach.

“I think he’s a lot more mature. He’s comparable to Chris Komer. He’s strict in his teaching because he wants to do things the right way. He wants the team to be disciplined and hard working and fundamentally sound. And he wants everyone to be a team player.”

The relatively smooth transition allowed Bagwell to focus on preparing the group of 10 athletes for their first match, Mar. 1, in the University tournament.

Henry Tran is the team’s only senior, and Bagwell said he would be leaning on Lefebvre for leadership. Lefebvre will play up front this year, with more emphasis on hitting and blocking. Last season, he was a setter.

Aside from Ryan Thompson, the Mustangs’ six-foot-nine junior middle blocker, the rest of the team is fairly small — all under 6-1.

“We’re going to have to play really good defense to beat teams,” Bagwell said. “It’s a matter of being able to pick up the balls that are hard to get — the balls the other team won’t get.”

The Mustangs face an additional challenge in their Division II status. They were moved up in the process of league restructuring, and 2006 was their last year competing as a Division III team.

But none of those factors are the biggest problem for the Mustangs, according to Orange Coast volleyball coach Travis Turner, who also heads the Balboa Bay Volleyball Club. Bagwell played for Turner last fall, and also played for Balboa Bay. He occasionally calls to ask Turner for advice.

“Building a program — I think that’s Costa Mesa’s biggest problem: That they have teams and not a program,” Turner said. “So we’ve talked about establishing a program and not a team. The first thing is to create interest on campus, consistency in coaching. I think Ryan being a part of that program is a big help. He’s extremely loyal. It’s no surprise that he’s back there trying to help Costa Mesa since that’s where he’s from. He’s just a loyal kid.”

Bagwell wants to continue his education next year and pursue a four-year degree in engineering.

But Bagwell said he also plans to continue coaching at Costa Mesa.

If he does, the last thing he has to worry about is getting any lip from the Mustangs.

“I think that Bagwell is not one to take any criticism from anyone on the team,” Lefebvre said. “I think he’s just like that. I think it’s a good thing for our team. We need someone to keep us in line. We have a tendency to lose focus and we need Ryan to be the one to keep us on track with our goals and our hopes for this season.”

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