Ramsey Will Replace Thompson as Marina Coach

Chris Ramsey, a member of the Georgia Tech University football staff the past two seasons, has been selected to replace Dave Thompson as Marina’s head coach.

Dr. Ira Toibin, Marina principal, said Wednesday that Ramsey, whom Marina assistant coaches met while attending a coaching clinic at Georgia Tech in May, was the only candidate interviewed.

“He just impressed us so tremendously that we didn’t even think it was necessary to go through the exercise of bringing in other people,” Toibin said. “I think we’re pretty fortunate to be getting someone of his caliber at this late date.”

Ramsey worked with the offensive line his first season at Georgia Tech and inside linebackers last season.

Ramsey’s hiring is expected to be approved by the Huntington Beach Union High School District Board of Trustees July 8.

Thompson submitted a letter of resignation to Toibin in early May, retracted that resignation on May 15, then announced on May 27 that he was resigning after all. He compiled a 58-32-4 record in eight seasons at Marina and took teams to the Southern Section Big Five Conference semifinals the last three seasons.

Ramsey, who was offensive coordinator at Forest Park High School in Forest Park, Ga., for four years before becoming a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech, said he served as unofficial host to the Marina assistants during their visit.

“We really hit it off well,” Ramsey, 37, said. “We built up a good rapport. They called me to tell me they had a change (in the head coaching situation) and asked me if I would be interested. It just kind of snowballed into something really positive.”

Ramsey is getting married Saturday and is returning to the Atlanta area for the wedding. He said he hopes to relocate to Southern California by the end of July.