Sorrells resigns

Chris Yemma and Bryce Alderton

Costa Mesa High boys volleyball coach Dave Sorrells, who led the team

to a CIF Southern Section Division III playoff appearance this

season, resigned from his post early this week, Costa Mesa Principal

Fred Navarro confirmed Wednesday.

Sorrells, a walk-on coach who also guided the team to a CIF

postseason appearance in 2002, concluded his fifth year at the helm

this spring.

The coach said he met with Navarro Thursday and they both

discussed the future of the Mesa volleyball program, which had been

affected by the departure of girls coach Allison Salladin after the

fall season.

Sorrells said the school had come to the conclusion the program

would succeed more if a teacher/coach was instated.

“The athletic department along with the administration felt it was

in the best interest of the program to hire an on-campus coach for

the boys and girls,” Sorrells said.

Sorrells also cited a low turnout before last season. He said

there were concerns about being able to fill a junior varsity team.

Navarro confirmed Wednesday the school had hired Los Alamitos

junior varsity coach Chris Komer to take over both programs next

season.

Sorrells, who guided the Mesa girls team in 1995 and 1996, said he

will continue to announce basketball games for the school.

“It was not my desire to leave, but I think it would be

unprofessional of me to make a big stink of this,” Sorrells said. “I

had a really good relationship with [Navarro]. He was a huge

supporter of the program and he was ultimately the one who had to

make a decision. They saw an opportunity to hire a teacher that might

be around for 20 or 30 years.”

Navarro said he held a meeting with “a handful” of the players’

parents about a week and a half ago to hear some of their concerns,

and said he shared them with Sorrells.

“You have to give them a forum to voice their concerns, but in the

long run it had zero influence on the situation,” Navarro said.

The Mustangs finished the year 12-5.

Sorrells said his immediate plans for next season are to referee

on various levels.