Falconer Leaves Laguna Beach High to Become Costa Mesa’s Basketball Coach

Craig Falconer, head basketball coach at Laguna Beach High School since 1980, has accepted the head job at Costa Mesa. He replaces Tim Parcel, who will coach Newport Harbor this season.

Falconer leaves Laguna Beach despite the possibility that 1985-86 may be one of the Artists’ strongest seasons ever as they return four starters, including Coby Naess, who led Orange County in rebounding last season.

The Costa Mesa program Falconer will take over is a perennially weak one, but the reasons he cited for his decision go beyond the quality of basketball at the schools.

“I think Laguna will be first or second in league this year,” Falconer said. “But there’s more to it than which team was better. It has to do with the athletic philosophies at Laguna . . . They’re not strong pro-athletics there.”

Falconer, who is one of the few walk-on head basketball coaches in the county, is a 1966 graduate of Costa Mesa. He also began his coaching career at the school in 1971, when he headed the junior vasity team. Before going to Laguna Beach, he held coaching positions at Santa Ana Valley and Estancia. In 1981, he was named Sea View League co-coach of the year.

Jim Madden, who has been on Falconer’s staff at Laguna Beach the past four years, will join him as an assistant at Costa Mesa, Falconer said, adding that he tentatively plans to retain the entire current Mustang staff as well.

“I hope to have an open game and run a lot,” Falconer said. “I’m really glad to be coaching here, and look forward to the opportunity.”