Faris resigns as Breakers baseball coach

Mike Sciacca

Tom Faris has resigned as head baseball coach at Laguna Beach High

after one year in the position.

Faris said Wednesday that he resigned because of “family

commitments.”

Before his one year at Laguna, Faris was a three-year assistant

baseball coach at Capistrano Valley.

In his only year at Laguna, the Breakers went 5-21 overall and

finished fifth in the Pacific Coast League.

“It was my first head-coaching experience, and at the time I

accepted the job, I lived in Laguna,” Faris said. “I love the

community. It was one of those things where I loved the community and

would love to coach at the local high school. I knew what I was

getting into when I took the job.

“I learned a lot about being a head coach and the things that go

along with the job, from field maintenance to dealing with parents,

players and the community. It’s been a great experience.”

Faris not only coached at the high school but also worked closely

with Laguna Beach Little League.

“I really liked the kids in our program a lot,” he said. “I really

and truly enjoyed coaching them, and the great pleasure came in

watching them improve throughout the year. It was also great to see

that improvement and enthusiasm all the way down through the Little

League level.

“You know, most people, when they resign, don’t really care [for]

the situation they are leaving. But I really do care about Laguna

Beach and want the program to succeed. I think they will succeed if

the commitment level improves.”

A successor to Faris has yet to be named.

“It’s sad because I feel Tom had the program heading in the right

direction,” Laguna Beach Athletic Director Ron Schwartz said of

Faris’ resignation. “He had a great group of parents behind him,

helping to get him everything he needed to be successful.”