Johnson resigns at Costa Mesa

Last year, Jay Johnson became Costa Mesa High’s third head football coach in three years. Now the Mustangs are looking for their fourth in four years.

Johnson, unable to secure a job on campus to go along with his duties as football coach, resigned April 21 after one season at the helm of the Mustangs.

Johnson said he had been hoping to land a teaching position at Costa Mesa High ever since he took the job as football coach, but said the situation never presented itself.

“I resigned based on the fact the school could not provide employment for me,” Johnson said. “As a teacher, custodian, security guard, anything. I was really hoping to get campus employment.”

Costa Mesa Athletic Director Tim Postiff confirmed Johnson’s resignation, and referred further questions to Principal John Garcia, who could not be reached for comment.

Johnson said he has taken a job working for a company outside of education, but has interviewed for teaching positions at smaller schools outside of Orange County and hopes to receive an offer soon. Johnson added that he could possibly wind up as an assistant coach, but has not interviewed for any head coaching positions.

“I feel bad that it ended the way it did,” Johnson said. “I wish the football players the best. I wish it would have worked out for all of us.”

Prior to arriving at Costa Mesa, Johnson complied a record of 26-45 at three different schools ? Fairmont Prep (2003-04), Santa Ana Calvary Chapel (1999-2002) and Western Christian (1998).

Upon his arrival, Johnson introduced the spread offense. But after the Mustangs opened the season 0-7, he switched back to the run-oriented double-wing offense that had been a staple at Costa Mesa prior to his arrival. The move produced back-to-back wins, but the Mustangs lost their season finale against Orange and finished out of the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Johnson said he felt he was getting the Costa Mesa program back on the right track.

“I felt the kids were starting to get used to me and the program,” said Johnson, a former running back at Azusa Pacific who was a teammate of former NFL star Christian Okoye.

Whoever replaces Johnson will inherit a team that has had four coaches already this decade. Jerry Howell, the winningest coach in school history, resigned in 2001 after compiling a 41-24 record. He was replaced by Dave Perkins, who coached three seasons before being fired just prior to the 2004 season. Tom Baldwin led the team on an interim basis in 2004 before Johnson was hired.

Next season, Costa Mesa will move to a newly-created league that includes Estancia, Laguna Beach, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel and Godinez, a new school in Santa Ana.

Costa Mesa has won just one of its eight CIF Southern Section playoff games since it played in the Division VIII championship game in 1993. The Mustangs’ lone playoff win in that stretch came in 1997, a first-round triumph over Buena Park.dpt-johnsonresigns29.IMGGraphicInfoU21QFDFA20060429U21QFDFANo Captiondpt.29-mug-johnson,jay-CPhotoInfoL41QFDF420060429ibmm98kf(LA)Jay Johnson