Virgen: Peirsol, Timmons lead Newport Harbor Hall of Fame class

There were two big names left off the inaugural Newport Harbor Hall of Fame class last year. But there was no way Aaron Peirsol and Steve Timmons would be denied this time around.

Peirsol, the five-time Olympic gold medalist and backstroke world-record holder, and Timmons, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in men’s indoor volleyball, lead this year’s class that’s not all about athletes. Peirsol and Timmons are the lone athletes, yet longtime water polo coach Bill Barnett, who worked his final season this winter, and Dennis O’Hern, the voice of so many Tars’ football games during 45 years, are also in the NHHS second Hall of Fame class.

O’Hern was also a longtime teacher at the school in Newport Beach, as was Bill Barnett. Roscine Feely, Fabian Giroux and Don Ulander are also among the faculty for the Harbor Hall of Fame. Maria Arena Bell, Joe Corbo, David Emmes, AG Kawamura, James Walkie Ray, Bob Rogers, Gregg Schwenk and Irene Worth join Peirsol and Timmons as alumni entering the Hall of Fame. The honoring of the class will take place May 27 at 5 p.m. at the school, Principal Sean Boulton recently announced.

Peirsol won’t need to travel far to attend the ceremony. He is the new boys’ swim coach at Newport Harbor, where he led the Sailors to their only CIF Southern Section title in the sport in 2002.

The school celebrated that big-time coaching hire in February and the Sailors will do more celebrating next month. Timmons was just honored last week during a Newport Harbor boys’ volleyball match in the school’s gym, where his U.S. men’s jersey No. 6 will hang.

Timmons began playing volleyball for the first time as a junior at Newport Harbor and eventually blossomed as one of the sport’s all-time greats known as the pioneer of back-row hitting.

Barnett won 15 CIF Southern Section championships as the Sailors’ coach, 10 with the boys and five with the girls. In addition, he coached countless elite water polo players who went on to compete in college.

The Newport Harbor Hall of Fame is a great concept that began last year, featuring Misty May-Treanor and the late George Yardley.

This year’s class seems just as star-studded as the first.

Bell gained her fame as the former head writer of the Young and the Restless. Newport Harbor also has a strong tradition in theater.

Emmes is the co-founder of the South Coast Repertory.

Kawamura is the former California Secretary of Agriculture.

Ray, a well-known developer and longtime Newport Beach resident, is known for his philanthropy and support of many Orange County institutions, including the Great Park.

Rogers is the renowned film director and producer.

Schwenk is known for his great work with directing the annual Newport Beach Film Festival as founder and CEO.

Worth is the famous actress.

The ceremony for this Hall of Fame class will go into the night based on all the credentials.

Timmons and Peirsol will definitely be a big part of that.