Hardman Still Suspended at Laguna Beach, but He’s Allowed to Be a Volunteer Coach

Cedrick Hardman, the former All-Pro football player who was head coach at Laguna Beach High School until suspended after a cocaine possession arrest last month, returned to school Wednesday as a volunteer coach.

Late Tuesday night, after an emotional public hearing, the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education voted, 4 to 1, to continue Hardman’s suspension without pay but to allow him to attend practices and assist coaches on a volunteer basis. The action banned Hardman from coaching in games and from communicating with players and coaches on the field. Hardman can attend games.

Hardman was arrested for possession of 5.5 grams of cocaine and for struggling with the two Laguna Beach police officers who tried to arrest him on Sept. 20.

Last week, Hardman was ordered by a Municipal Court judge to enroll in a drug rehabilitation program and said he would suspend prosecution of the cocaine charge if Hardman performs satisfactorily.

The board continued Hardman’s suspension without pay until the end of his contract--Aug. 15, 1987--but voted to reinstate him upon “successful participation in the drug diversion program.”