Prep football: Howell resigns at Costa Mesa

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Jerry Howell, who in six seasons won more football

games than any other coach in Costa Mesa High history, resigned Friday.

Costa Mesa Principal Diana Carey said Howell expressed a desire to

take a break from coaching, when he submitted his resignation to her

Friday morning.

Carey said the decision was made entirely by Howell. She also said she

“was not taken completely by surprise.”

“Jerry came in earlier (Friday) and said he wants to go back to the

classroom,” Carey said. “He’s been a coach for a long time and he wants a

break. He’ll be in our social science department next year, which is

great for us, too. He’s really a sharp guy and he does a good job. I

appreciate all of his efforts on behalf of Costa Mesa High. He carried on

our winning tradition.”

Howell, 55, said the rigors of running a program, including offseason

weight training and fund-raising, wore him down.

“I’m not over the hill and I’m not old,” Howell said. “I’m just tired.

My knee has bothered me (he had surgury after last season to repair

cartilage) and I have plantar fasciitis (heel pain) in my right foot. But

that’s not an excuse.”

Howell currently teaches physical education, so his move will free up

a position in that department, which may go to his replacement.

Carey said the school will post the opening for interested applicants

from within the Newport-Mesa Unified School District for a period

determined by district policy, then proceed with the hiring process.

State law requires the school to look at qualified replacements from

within the district, before hiring anyone from another district.

Tom Baldwin, an assistant under Howell and a full-time teacher at the

school, who was head coach at Costa Mesa from 1984-1991, said Friday he

would apply for the opening.

“I hope Tom gets a shot,” Howell said. “He’s been loyal to the school

and I think he deserves another chance.”

Howell said he would even consider working as an assistant under

Baldwin, should the need arise.

“If Tom asked me to help, I’d help,” Howell said. “I like Costa Mesa

and I want to stay at Costa Mesa. To coach at any other high school, I

would kind of feel disloyal.”

Howell, whose 35-year coaching career includes head-coaching stints at

Occidental College, State University of New York Stoney Brook, Eastern

Oregon State, Foothill High and Santa Maria High, compiled a 41-24 record

with the Mustangs.

He guided Mesa to the CIF Southern Section playoffs four times,

including a berth in the Division XIII quarterfinals in 1997.

That ’97 team won a school single-season record 10 games. The Mustangs

advanced to the playoffs four straight seasons (1996-99), which had never

before been done in the program’s 41-season history.

His 41 victories, including a Pacific Coast League co-championship in

1999, are seven better than Tom French, who compiled his wins in seven

seasons.

Costa Mesa went 6-4, 2-3 in the PCL, and missed the playoffs last

fall.

Howell said no other assistants on his staff would likely express

interest in the position.

Whoever takes over, will inherit a program stocked with talent.

Immediately after last season, Howell said he was looking forward to a

strong future with the program. The freshman team won the PCL crown and

the junior varsity lost a PCL title showdown to Northwood, 9-7, in a game

the Mustangs committed four turnovers, Howell said.

Costa Mesa Boys Athletic Director Kirk Bauermeister said Howell made

improvements in the program during his tenure.

“I judge a coach by how the program was when he took over and where it

is when he leaves,” Bauermeister said. “We have solid kids in our program

and the facilities have improved. I think no one will realize how good

Jerry was, until he’s gone. When all this settles, I think he’ll end up

coaching somewhere.”