Orris, Volding headed to retire

The Corona del Mar High athletic program will be seeking to fill at least one high-profile position and a coaching job they didn’t need to worry about for the past 24 years. That’s because athletic director Paul Orris and longtime girls’ swim coach Doug Volding will both be stepping down to retire when the school year ends.

“I’m gone June 20,” said Orris, who is in his 39th year at CdM, where he was the boys’ varsity coach from 1986 to 2001 and the athletic director for three years. “I’m hanging them up.”

Orris, 61, a math teacher at CdM, guided the boys’ basketball teams to two CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA titles and three league championships during his 15 years coaching the varsity squad. The Sea Kings were also CIF runners-up three times in various divisions.

He coached the freshman team for 16 years. With the varsity squad, Orris compiled a 229-199 career record, the most victories by any basketball coach in Newport-Mesa district annals.

“I’ve had a great time,” said Orris, who has worked only at CdM after earning his undergraduate degree at Southern Methodist and his teaching credential at Long Beach State. “[CdM is] a special place.”

Orris endured brain aneurysm surgery February of last year, but quickly recovered to resume his duties at CdM, attending several contests for each sport.

“Paul epitomizes somebody with a real strong work ethic that is necessary to be successful in teaching, coaching and working as an athletic director,” said CdM boys’ golf coach Mike Starkweather, who has known Orris since 1982 and has been at CdM for 24 years. “He has a passion for dealing with and helping kids.

“Bottom line is that in his position in teaching and to assist kids, Paul has always done it with a very stern hand. But he has always been there to help the kids and that’s why he’s been so successful.”

Starkweather also knows Volding well. The two worked at Lincoln Intermediate until it closed in 1984 and then both went to CdM, Starkweather to coach the boys’ swim team, Volding the girls.

Volding, a counselor at CdM, won his first CIF Southern Section title in 2004, after his girls’ team captured the Division II title. The Sea Kings had finished runners-up in 2003, and they were also second in 2005.

“He’s just decided to back away from all his responsibilities,” Volding’s wife, Sue said. “He’s actually retiring from the school district in 2010 and letting go of swimming this year so he can get somebody else in there and work with the team and start now.”

Volding could not be reached, as he was preparing to attend possible jury duty in Santa Ana, his wife said.

“I know he really enjoyed working with the kids, not only as the coach, but as the counselor,” Orris said of Volding. “At some time, you have to pass the baton to the younger and energetic group.”

The CdM swim program is set to honor Volding with a special presentation May 27 at the team banquet, where they will have former swimmers there to wish him well.

“He’s been a great coach,” said Jackie Larson, president of the swim team’s booster club. “He’s touched a lot of people’s lives. Everyone I talk to only have good things to say about him.”

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at steve.virgen@latimes.com.