Tucker Resigns as Orange Coast Football Coach : Pirate Mentor Compiled 129-102-5 Record, but Says It Was Time for a Change

Dick Tucker, an institution in Orange County football for the past 35 years, ended months of speculation and announced his resignation as Orange Coast College’s football coach at an emotional press conference Friday afternoon.

Tucker compiled a 129-102-5 record and won two national championships and four conference championships in 24 years at Orange Coast, but the football program has fallen on hard times in recent years. The Pirates have failed to win more than four games in a season since 1978, and Tucker’s record the last seven years is 17-51-2, including a 2-7-1 finish in 1985.

“I have mixed emotions, obviously, after this many years,” Tucker began, choking back tears. The usually stoic coach then paused for several minutes to regain his composure.

“It’s very hard to stop doing something you’ve done all your life,” Tucker said. “I felt it was time for a change, for me and for the college. There was no pressure on me to resign. In fact, (school president Dr. Donald R. Bronsard) was very supportive. The decision was mine. I just felt, after 24 years, it was time for a change.”

Tucker, who had been contemplating his retirement from coaching for the past few months, said he made the decision “about two weeks ago.”

“Prior to Christmas, I thought I would return and coach for at least one more year,” Tucker said. “I talked to Susan (Brown, the school’s director of health and physical education) before Christmas and gave her the impression that I would be back. But after a great deal of soul-searching, I decided it might be better to do it this year.”

Bronsard said that the search for Tucker’s replacement would begin immediately, and that Tucker, who will continue at Orange Coast as the school’s athletic director and golf coach, will be actively involved in selecting a new coach.

“We’re all very sad that he’s stepping down as head coach, but we’re very grateful that he’s remaining as athletic director,” Bronsard said. “Dick has been a great coach, a true legend in the county. He’s handled a high-profile job here elegantly and eloquently.”

Tucker, 59, is considered the dean of Orange County coaches. He began his coaching career in 1951 at Brea-Olinda High School. In 11 years at Brea, Tucker won eight Orange League titles and two CIF Southern Section championships.

Following a perfect 13-0 season at Brea in 1961, Tucker moved to Orange Coast, where he posted a 9-1 record his first season. The following year, the Pirates went 10-0, including a 21-0 victory over Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; in the Junior Rose Bowl, and won the first national championship in the school’s history. Tucker added another national championship in 1975 as the Pirates went 11-0 and beat Rio Hondo, 38-14, in the Avocado Bowl. The 1975 team is still regarded by many as one of the finest teams in community college football history.

When asked what were some of his personal highlights in his tenure at Orange Coast, Tucker said that what he remembered most were the players he coached, not what the teams accomplished.

“After 24 years, the wins and losses kind of blend together,” Tucker said. “I remember the people on every team I had, and I had some great people. I was lucky that I got to coach both my sons (Clay and Rhett) . . . that was a real pleasure for me. I had a chance to know most of the great coaches in the county.

“That’s what I’m really going to miss--the association with the players, the coaches and the Saturday nights.”