Becerra leaves Mesa

After one season as the boys’ soccer coach, Juan Becerra has waved aloha to Costa Mesa High.

Becerra said he has stepped down from his post and is moving to Hawaii because of work.

“It’s a two- or three-year job with a private company,” said Becerra, who didn’t want to elaborate on his new position. “I’ll definitely come back [to California] after that and maybe find a school to coach at again.”

That school most likely won’t be Costa Mesa, which disciplined Becerra last season after his team received four hard red cards.

The high number of reds is why the Mustangs will start the upcoming season on probation. They violated a CIF Southern Section rule, bylaw No. 2413.5 in the Blue Book.

The penalty cost Costa Mesa four allowable matches in the upcoming season, said Thom Simmons, a section spokesperson, in an email.

“If they receive three more [red cards] while on probation, [they] would be eliminated from the playoffs,” Simmons said of the Mustangs.

Under Becerra, Costa Mesa failed to reach the postseason last season.

The Mustangs finished 10-12-2, 3-6-1 in the Orange Coast League (fifth place). The season before Becerra arrived at Costa Mesa, the program made the playoffs for the first time in nine years.

Phil D’Agostino, the school’s principal, said those interested in the opening should contact athletic directors Sharon Uhl and Jim Kiefer at (714) 424-8708.

[email protected]

Twitter: @DCPenaloza