Marina Principal Lobbying to Keep His Football Coach

Marina High School Principal Ira Toibin will meet with Huntington Beach Union High School District officials Thursday to discuss an effort to retain Dave Thompson as the school’s football coach.

Toibin confirmed Tuesday that Thompson, who has directed Marina’s rise from mediocrity to prominence in football, has submitted a letter of resignation, but said that he hopes to make arrangements that could convince Thompson to change his mind.

Thompson cited lack of administrative support, especially the lack of full-time positions for his assistants, as one of his reasons for resigning. Of his six assistant coaches for the 1985 season, only two--Larry Doyle and Marina Athletic Director Andy Donegan----are full-time staff members.

He lost eight-year assistant Mark Rehling, who is now teaching at Huntington Beach High. And four years ago he lost assistant John Seeley, who also was laid off because of declining enrollment after spending four years at Marina.

“I hate seeing guys put that much time in and not get a fair shake,” Thompson said. “I shouldn’t be losing coaches with eight years experience . . . “There are some financial situations that I think should be resolved. Maintenance of our facility, weight room and locker room has been a problem. It was becoming too tough a job for having been there eight years.”

Marina’s enrollment has declined at a rate of 150 students per year over the last four years, making it difficult to obtain teaching positions for coaches.

Thompson, a physical education teacher, is keeping his options open. “I didn’t want to quit, but I didn’t think I could coach under those circumstances,” he said. “But if all the problems suddenly get solved, then I’d certainly like to coach.”

Thompson has compiled a 58-32-4 record at Marina and has taken teams to the semifinals of the Southern Section Big Five Conference playoffs the last three years. Before Thompson left Lynwood High to become the Marina coach in 1978, the Vikings had had only one winning season.