Rules or No, Hardman Wants to Be a Winner at Laguna Beach

Cedrick Hardman, dressed in gray sweat pants and a jumbo-sized T-shirt, is making the point that all he wants to do is help kids and coach football players. It’s hard not to believe him. Hardman is nothing if not sincere.

But are sincerity and good intentions enough? As the newly hired head football coach at Laguna Beach High School, Hardman, 36, is responsible for the operation of the school’s football program. He has to make sure the program is operating within the rules set forth by the California Interscholastic Federation.

Hardman, a former All-Pro defensive end, on rules: “I don’t know all the CIF rules. It’s annoying how many people are more concerned with reading the fine print than winning. I would think they would be stretching the rules every which way they could to get this program to win. To me, it’s ticky-tacky. We have enough rules to last us forever.”

It is Hardman’s aversion to the constraints of rules--and the actions of zealous parents and boosters--that have been the source of his recent anguish. Hardman’s excellent rapport with young athletes and his professional football experience, have caused otherwise straight-arrow parents, coaches and administrators to stray from the rules. Success surely has a price, and by all appearances, boosters at Laguna Beach are willing to meet it.

The manner in which Hardman was hired has sparked some talk in Laguna Beach. Longstanding hiring procedures were set aside in his case. And, the way in which the school’s administration and school board handled a few of the scrapes Hardman got into have raised the issue of his receiving special considerations.

Take the hiring. According to Dr. Robert Hughes, the school principal and Walt Hamera, the athletic director, Laguna Beach’s policy for hiring coaches was to assemble a committee composed of them, a parent and a student. The committee would review candidates and the principal would takes the committee’s recommendation to the school board.

Hamera said that in the 11 years he has been at the school--seven as athletic director--he could not remember the last time a Laguna Beach coach was not hired in this fashion.

Cedrick Hardman, however, was not hired through this procedure. In his case, a petition, signed by some 200 parents/boosters, was presented to Hughes in his office. Hughes then shared the petition with the superintendent and the school board and by consent and agreement, he was hired.

Janet S. Vickers, president of the Board of Education of the Laguna Beach Unified School District, said of the hiring procedure: “It was a discussion item in a closed-door session. Dr. Hughes does hire the coaches and he hired Cedrick.”

The board has since established clear guidelines for the hiring of coaches. “Because of the controversy surrounding his hiring, we established a policy that came into effect the day he was hired,” Vickers said. “It will affect all future coaches.”

Vickers said the new policy would reinstate the committee procedure for review of prospective coaches.

Hardman was not involved with the petition that demanded his hiring. That was the product of people who had seen Hardman work with the football players as an assistant coach last season. They were impressed with his rapport and the respect he commanded from the players.

Bob Cheatley, a football booster club member, remembers how he first heard about Hardman.

“My son (Jim) came home from football practice one day and he told me he had learned more about football in one week than he had all year. I don’t think it was any coincidence that that was the same time Cedrick came on as an assistant coach. I went down to practice and watched how Cedrick worked with the kids. I was really impressed, he really cared.”

No one seems to question Hardman’s commitment to his players. What is questionable is his knowledge of the way in which athletic programs at public schools are conducted.

“That’s the ticky-tacky stuff,” Hardman said. “Someone has read the rules, but they don’t know a thing about football. They don’t really care if the program succeeds, they are just here to interpret the rules.”

Among the rule-hounds to which Hardman refers are principal Hughes and athletic director Hamera. They have had to censure Hardman in a few instances.

For example:

- In his first varsity game, Hardman was assesed a 15-yard misconduct penalty for yelling at a referee, something he was accustomed to doing in the NFL. Hardman reportedly continued berating the official. Said Dennis Haryung, the Artists’ former head football coach: “I ended up moving up to the press box to call the plays because he was such a distraction on the field. He doesn’t even know the rules.” Hughes said Hardman’s conduct on the sidelines was no better or worse than any other Orange County football coach.

- Hardman, along with former pro Eric Johnson, served as an assistant for the junior varsity team. In a game against University where only one official worked, Hardman placed 12 defensive players in the game for three quarters. “The opposing coach kept giving me grief about it,” said Tom Purdy, the head JV coach and a social studies teacher. “I didn’t notice it. I went up to Cedrick and said, ‘Can you believe that guy?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I know. I did it.’ We were getting our butts kicked and he figured we needed some help.”

Also in that game, a Laguna Beach player was ejected for fighting. Hardman had the player change jerseys and put him back in the game. “The kid was thrown out of the game, then I look up and there he is,” Purdy said. “If the three of us get together, we are going to laugh at it years from now. “For Cedrick, it’s definitely confusing coming into the public school system with all the rules, especially coming from the pros. Their intentions were good, but where do you draw the line? Do you teach the kids to abide by the rules or not? I really like Cedrick a lot, I’ve spent a lot of time with him. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve explained that he needs to learn the rules.”

What action was taken as a result of the incident?

“The athletic director told me about it. I took no action,” Hughes said. “In discussion with Cedrick, the AD reminded him of the CIF rules. He received a verbal reprimand from the AD. I didn’t think it was necessary for me also to do it.”

The most difficult episode for Hardman came March 29. Hardman was arrested and booked for driving his car with a suspended license and possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. Both are misdemeanors. Laguna Beach police say Hardman was given a ticket for the marijuana offense and was released after posting $50 bail.

It marked the third time Hardman had been cited for driving with a license that had been suspended in January of 1984, when he failed to show proof of insurance after a traffic accident in Santa Ana.

A week after his March 29 arrest, Hardman received a valid driver’s license.

Hardman’s arraignment on the two charges is scheduled for Monday at South Orange County Municipal Court in Laguna Niguel.

“Last week was a nightmare,” Hardman said at the time. “I have never been arrested in my life. I know I made a mistake, but I’m trying every day to be a better person.”

The issue of Hardman’s arrest is only significant in light of the action taken by school officials. Some believe it clearly illustrates a double-standard that exists at Laguna Beach High with regard to Hardman.

The school board, after meeting with attorneys, decided not to take any action against Hardman. Hughes said it was the superintendent, not he, who made the final decision.

“How can people say I caved in to the school board,” Hughes asked. “I’m an employee of the school district. What if you say no to your boss? I was not in a position, or was I requested, to make a decision. I have my personal recommendations, but they don’t make any difference. What counts is what the law says.”

Bill J. Barnes, Laguna Beach Unified School District superintendent, said that without reservation he would make the same decision.

Haryung echoed the sentiments of many persons connected with the Laguna Beach athletic program who were interviewed about the problems of the school’s sports program when he said the handling of the arrest revealed a double standard and set a poor example for the students.

“I don’t know how he can get away with it,” Haryung said. “There’s a lax attitude on behalf of the school board because they are the ones who hired him. They are stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

Board president Vickers said the board was merely being fair to Hardman, “just as we would want to be fair to students.”

However, several Laguna Beach baseball players who recently were caught smoking marijuana were suspended from school. Haryung and others cite this punishment of the students as an example of how the administration is presenting a poor example for the youngsters by setting a double standard.

In yet another situation involving marijuana, a Laguna Beach volleyball coach serving as a chaperon on a school-sponsored skiing trip caught students smoking the drug. The coach told the students to get rid of the substance. He said he didn’t want to see it ever again. The coach did not report the incident.

When Hughes discovered what had happened, he fired the coach. Hughes said there were extenuating circumstances that justified the firing. Hughes refused to identify the coach.

Perhaps the strongest criticism leveled against the athletic department isn’t really a criticism of it, but of those who are perceived as controlling the department: Boosters, parents, wealthy individuals in the community--people who are doling out money and in many cases expect some return, or some influence.

It is the same influence, some argue, that got Hardman hired. It is the influence that has caused JV coach Purdy, who has been at Laguna Beach since 1973, to quit coaching.

“I will not coach under the present circumstances,” he said. “The more we rely on the booster club, the worse it gets. When parents control the purse strings--I don’t care what you say--you just can’t control the program. It’s got to happen, there is just no way. I have been around it too long.”

Allegations are flying that the boosters are offering to supplement the incomes of some of the coaches, a practice that is in clear violation of CIF rules.

“I don’t see anybody trying to circumvent the athletic program with money,” booster club member Cheatley said. “The football boosters aren’t throwing out money like everyone is saying. We certainly don’t have the power to hire and fire anyone.

“We are not paying Cedrick a salary as of this time now, period. He’s got to produce. He could work on to the staff at Laguna Beach in another form, not as a teacher. I’m sure things can work out if he does a good job. It’s up to him.”

In another interview when asked about receiving monthly payments from boosters, Hardman said, “As far as my salary, nothing has been worked out, but we have discussed a salary.”

In addition, Purdy said that when he told Hardman of his intent to stop coaching, Hardman told him there would be “more money next year.” Purdy said it was his understanding that Hardman meant money from boosters.

Hardman scoffs at the suggestion that parental influence will sway his decision as to whether a child will play or not. “It’s their right to put money into something and they also reserve the right not to,” Hardman said. “They are not interfering with me. There’s no way that one kid will play because of his father’s occupation.

“Let’s get one thing real clear. If I wanted to make money, I would not be at Laguna Beach High School. As far as my reaping benefits--I’ve made all of $918, after taxes, since I’ve been here.”

Hardman may not be making money, but he is saving some. Hardman rents a house at a below-market rate owned by a company called Cal Glass for Research, a firm owned by Cheatley.

“Yes, he’s renting from me,” Cheatley said. “It’s nothing for free. His lease was up at his old apartment and I had this property. He rents it at a lower rate than it would normally be, but he pays me.”

Cheatley would not say how much rent Hardman pays on the spacious, Spanish-tiled roof home in North Laguna.

“If he works out, he has a place to hang his hat,” Cheatley said. “It (the rental agreement) could be a long-term thing, it’s up to Cedrick. If he works out, great. If not, someone’s going to get his job.”

That may sum up Hardman’s status at Laguna Beach High. He was hired through the pressure of others. As long as he does the job, the perks will continue to flow. The boosters who are helping him see the situation in just that way: They are helping a nice guy who is good with the kids, trying to convince him to stay. He barely gets paid, so give him a little money. Help him with his rent. Buy tackling dummies and towels and helmets. What’s wrong with that?

For Hardman, a man who has lived his adult life in the sheltered world of professional football, this avalanche of rules and bureaucratic haggling is mystifying. He’s still adjusting to the outside, still learning how to straighten out a simple automobile registration problem.

He’s also vulnerable, now that the responsibility for the program is his. No one can protect him if the rules are broken. And, clearly, if he doesn’t win, his new-found friends will find someone else to play with.