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Mark Todd is back coaching Newport Harbor's boys lacrosse team.
Mark Todd is back coaching Newport Harbor’s boys lacrosse team.
Tim Burt. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 31, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Newport Harbor’s new lacrosse coach, Mark Todd, is trying to build another county power.

Todd did it at Corona del Mar, helping the Sea Kings advance to the playoffs every year before taking a year off from coaching.

At the time, Todd said he wanted to spend more time with his family and concentrate on his real estate career.

One year later, Todd is guiding the Sailors, who showed some promise early in the season, earning a top 10 county-ranking.

Todd realizes the Sailors have a ways to go before attaining the level of their rivals at CdM.

“We’re getting there, they (CdM) have practiced that same system for the last four years,” Todd said following a match with the Sea Kings earlier this season. “We’ll get there.”

Todd, named county coach of the year in 2007, took Corona del Mar to the county finals in 2009. The Sea Kings lost to Foothill, 10-8.

Corona del Mar, under second-year Coach G.W. Mix, remains one of the elite programs in the county.

“It’s (Corona del Mar) a great program and a great school and I hope to strengthen up this side of the bay so we can compete against them more regularly,” Todd said.

Todd coached at Corona del Mar for six years before taking a year off. But he didn’t stay away from the sport, attending matches and doing some television announcing for a local cable channel during last year’s playoffs.

“My wife said I go to all the lacrosse games any way, I might as well get out there and coach,” he said. “I was surprised to see the Newport Harbor opportunity open up and I thought it was potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity so I took it.

“My sons will matriculate into Newport Harbor also.”

Todd is glad to be back coaching.

“It’s fun and it’s exhausting,” he said. “It’s 50 hours a week but I love it, it’s definitely a passion.”

Todd is still involved in the real estate business.

“Fortunately, that’s getting better too so I’m very optimistic about both careers,” he said.

Mix, the CdM coach, isn’t surprised Todd is back coaching and said the game is better off for it.

“I knew he would, he’s got a passion for it,” Mix said. “He’s too good to stay away from it too long. You want to coach and he had an opportunity to coach close to his home and be close to his family and be around kids that he’s familiar with. I’m just glad to have him back coaching.”