Calling the Shots:

As for first seasons, the new athletic directors at Newport Harbor High and Corona del Mar experienced one that will be hard to top.

The Sailors’ Mike Zimmerman and the Sea Kings’ Don Grable were both part of athletic programs that each captured a state title during the fall sports season.

They each worked behind the scenes. At times during the season they compared notes, shared war stories and teased each other to keep the Back Bay rivalry alive.

Many might think there would be plenty of ammunition for jokes in Zimmerman’s case. He walked into a virtual minefield when becoming Newport Harbors athletic director in October.

His predecessor, the highly respected Eric Tweit, was fired, along with baseball coach Evan Chalmers in June. Principal Michael Vossen said he wanted the athletic program to go in a new direction and put Zimmerman in place as the guide to this so-called new path.

When he arrived at Newport Harbor, not many knew about the man most call, “Zim.”

He had been entrenched at Baldwin Park High, where he had taught and coached for 24 years, 18 of those he also served as the athletic director.

Now, he travels from his home in San Dimas to work for the Sailors. He most likely wont teach or coach at Newport Harbor, as he’ll mainly focus his time and energy as the A.D.

As a baseball and football coach, Zim has been in some big games in his time, so he was somewhat prepared for the huge challenge at Newport Harbor.

The coaches, who still keep Tweit in high regard, remain on staff. And, oh yeah, Tweit, is definitely present too, working as the coach of the girls’ cross country and track and field teams.

“When I first started here, not knowing the circumstances, but knowing that it did involve the administration, I did feel there was some resentment,” Zim said. “But I think there would have been some resentment there no matter who was there as athletic director.

“I told them, I’m here to help you. I’m not here to change anything. I think the fact that I was honest and upfront helped. I made it an effort to communicate. It’s easy to come in when so many coaches do a great job.”

Zim did his best to run things smoothly during the transition. Can you believe Tweit actually provided a helping hand?

When Zim ran into trouble or just needed advice, Tweit was there. This was supposed to Tweit’s swan song of a year before he went into retirement. For the better part of the past two decades, he’s been the face of the Newport Harbor athletic program, a huge part of the Long Gray Line.

“For him to help me that says a lot,” Zim said. “Definitely some big shoes to fill. If I’m half of what he did over the years, I’ll consider it a success. I can’t say enough about him.

Overall, a certain theme has really helped Zim. It’s a statement that has put the coaches and the new A.D. on the same page. At CdM, it has also worked wonders for Grable and his staff.

“Anything we do and everything we do should be for the benefit of the kids,” Zim says.

He, and the rest of the Newport Harbor athletics staff, saw the results last week when the girls’ volleyball team won the CIF State Division I championship.

At CdM, there was also great emotion as the girls’ cross country team captured the CIF State Division III title, its seventh overall, tying the all-time record. It was the second straight for the Sea Kings and their fourth in the past five years.

Not bad for Grable, who had been working as an assistant athletic director under Paul Orris, who retired in the spring. Of course, this transition appeared a bit smoother than Zim’s.

Orris, though he is retired, has not gone into hiding and continually helps Grable. Orris does it so conspicuously. He’s still known to work the scoreboard for lower-level sporting events.

“He really has his heart at CdM and he loves the kids,” Grable says of Orris. “He’s a good role model for me to follow.”

Grable, much like Zim, is a full-time A.D. for the Sea Kings. He came to CdM after 19 years as a teacher and coach at Los Amigos, his alma mater. After attending the school and teaching there for so long, Grable was seeking a change.

Three years ago, his brother told him the Sea Kings freshman boys’ basketball needed a coach. Grable talked with varsity coach Ryan Schachter and Grable soon became part of the Sea Kings.

In addition to changing schools, Grable also became interested in transforming his title, as he worked under Orris and learned to become an A.D.

He’s still learning actually.

“It’s challenging for me because it’s something new,” Grable said. “A lot of things to handle; it’s new and very challenging. But I think I’m getting better daily.”

Fall sports season is over. Zim and Grable are now in winter mode. The CdM boys’ soccer team and the Newport Harbor girls’ water polo team appear in line for great success. Whichever team wins a CIF title, one A.D. will be sure to remind the other.