Beckman football coach Glen Fisher has resigned after two seasons to become the head coach at Costa Mesa.
Fisher replaces Wally Grant who resigned after four seasons. The Mustangs were 2-8 last year.
Fisher’s Beckman teams were 4-6 overall and 1-4 in the Pacific Coast League the past two years and did not advance to the CIF Southern Division playoffs.
“I think it’s a great opportunity, it’s a place that is ready to explode,” Fisher said Thursday. “There is a new principal (Jacob Haley) there who when you talk to him, it’s just infectious. He’s a football guy and he wants to build a a great football program and a great school, and I’m kind of humbled by the opportunity to be honest with you.
“The community is behind it and they’re building a brand new facility on the campus and they have a new weight room. When I walked in the doors the first time, it captivated me.
“I’m not saying anything negative about Beckman. It’s more that the opportunity is best for me and my family.”
Beckman principal Adele Heuer said school officials had hoped Fisher would be the school’s head coach for a long time.
“We were surprised by that,” Heuer said of Fisher’s exit. “He explained his reasons and he said it’s a decision he feels is right for his family. We’re sad to lose him. He’s always worked so hard for Beckman and we were looking forward to working with him for many more years. But we respect his decision and we respect him and we wish him the very best.”
Fisher said he was proud of what he and his staff accomplished at Beckman.
“When we got it two years ago, it wasn’t in very good shape,” Fisher said. “And then I think I left it in real good shape. I think we did a lot of things really well. We changed the culture of the football program, we changed the relationship with the staff on campus and the players and the kids were phenomenal and the parents were great to me. We had a terrific relationship with the kids.”
Fisher was Beckman’s head softball coach for four years before being named head football coach. He had been Beckman’s defensive coordinator in 2010 and 2011, when the Patriots reached the finals of the CIF-SS Southern Division.
Heuer said the head coaching position at Beckman will be posted next week. She did not indicate a timeline for naming a new coach.
Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com
