Chaix to lead CdM lacrosse program

The Corona del Mar High girls’ lacrosse team will make the transition to a CIF-sanctioned sport with a familiar face at the helm.

Kathy Chaix, who has coached the Sea King girls’ club lacrosse team the last two years, has been named the head coach of the team as it heads toward its first season of being sanctioned by the CIF Southern Section.

“As soon as we realized we were going into CIF, I applied for the job,” Chaix said. “It seems to be a nice fit.”

Chaix was coaching her daughter in lacrosse in a New Jersey youth recreation league when she moved to Newport Beach more than two years ago.

She started coaching in the Newport Beach Youth Lacrosse league and helped start the Corona del Mar girls’ club program, which last year completed its second season.

Lacrosse became sanctioned by the CIF Southern Section last season.

However, no Newport-Mesa area teams immediately made the transition from being a club team.

Both the Corona del Mar boys’ and girls’ teams are slated to go into CIF competition for the first time next spring.

Chaix said Corona del Mar will now have a girls’ junior varsity team, which it hasn’t had in the past. She said the creation of two teams was required, because the number of girls playing lacrosse has doubled every year since she has been at the school.

Last year as a club team, Corona del Mar went 7-0-1 during the regular season, despite a lack of experience.

“I was thrilled with our season,” Chaix said. “A lot of kids came from other sports and a lot of kids were picking up a stick for the first time.”

Chaix said she aims to provide a positive environment for the players.

“I like to have fun,” she said. “I want the kids to learn and be happy and I like to win. It’s kind of a three-pronged thing.”

Lacrosse becomes the 10th girls’ varsity sport at CdM. It will be added to the spring calendar that includes softball, track and field and swimming.