Clarke ready for double-duty
The day after the 2014-15 school year came to an end at Laguna Beach High marked a new beginning for Ted Clarke.
It was then that the Southern California native became the school’s new athletic director.
Clarke, 57, took over the position June 19, one day after Mike Churchill had retired as the school’s athletic director. He also holds another role: head coach of the varsity football program.
Clarke has coached football at the high school and community college level for 33 years. His only previous turn as an athletic director was at San Dimas High (1997-2000).
“I’m absolutely thrilled with the possibilities in front of me,” he said. “I’m thrilled every time I come through Laguna Canyon. I get a big smile on my face. This is an opportunity to lead the (athletic) department, rather than run it.”
For the past four years, Clarke has taught at El Monte High and served as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator of football at Whittier College.
He said he was ready for a change after a life-changing event a few years ago.
“I have always enjoyed Laguna Beach,” said Clarke, the father of two. His son, Ian, is a junior at Whittier College and daughter, Hannah, is a freshman and playing women’s volleyball at Pasadena City College.
Clarke’s wife, Nancy, passed away three years ago after battling cancer.
“My previous school (El Monte High) was going through a transition period, new superintendent, new assistant superintendent, new assistant principals, and I felt under-utilized. I was only teaching there. I heard about the (Laguna Beach) job and applied. My dream location. I was ready for a new challenge and direction in my career.”
Clarke attended Mission Viejo High for two years, then moved to Rancho Bernardo in San Diego County and attended Poway High. He played football and wrestled at both schools. After his prep career, he went on to play football for two years at Palomar College and received a scholarship to Cal Poly Pomona.
The Laguna football program, which Clarke said has been involved with weight-lifting-only sessions, officially kicks off its summer season July 13. Clarke said his team will compete this month in passing league tournaments at Duarte (varsity) and Los Altos (varsity, frosh/soph.)
The freshman team also will compete at the Buena Park Frosh/Soph Passing Tournament and Linemen Competition.
Clarke takes over the head coaching position from Corey Brown who resigned the post after the 2014 season to return to school. Clarke said he originally had been hired as an assistant football coach while the Laguna Beach Unified School District screened applicants for the head coaching position. He would be named “interim” head coach, a tag, he said, that was “removed” Tuesday by Laguna Beach High Principal Chris Herzfeld.
Churchill, Clarke’s AD predecessor, had preceded Brown as varsity football head coach for two seasons (2011, 2012).
“My first love has always been football,” Clarke said. “It has given me so much. When the opportunity to take over as head coach reared its head, I dove in.
“We have some challenges in front of us right now, mainly, low numbers coming out so far, but this is a very solid group of kids who have been terrific. I told them that we’ve got an opportunity in front of us to put the cornerstone on a good, solid program, that we have the opportunity to be competitive year-in-and-year out. If they stick with it, they can walk away when their careers are over and say they were a part of it.”
Clarke said he has already assumed some AD duties by meeting Laguna Beach High coaches and “solidifying schedules, touring and evaluating facilities and use of these facilities, settling in, meeting the school community.”
“I know I’ve said I’m thrilled before and might have over-used the phrase, but that’s what I am,” he said. “Chris Herzfeld has been entirely supportive as has everyone else. I’m looking forward to this fresh start. This is a role I’ve been working toward.”
Twitter: @MikeSciacca