Here’s a Scoop: This Double Dip Works Just Fine

Most mornings by 7:30, Wayne Heck already has arrived at his first job, the Newport Beach ice cream and dessert shop he owns and operates. But after a morning of making bonbons, he goes to Newport Harbor High School and turns his attention to singles and doubles of a different sort in his second job: walk-on baseball coach.

Heck, 38, is one of 363 non-faculty varsity head coaches in Orange County high schools.

“I’ve got what I’ve always wanted,” said Heck, who is in his fifth season at Newport Harbor. “I’ve got my own business, and I’m coaching baseball.”

Heck is the type of walk-on coach whom school administrators like to employ: He is mature and has a background in education and coaching.

Heck played baseball during his two years at Citrus College, then transferred to San Diego State, where he majored in history and minored in physical education. His baseball career at SDSU ended with a back injury after three months, but that didn’t alter his plans to teach and coach

baseball. While fulfilling the student teaching requirement, though, he made a discovery that did: He didn’t like teaching.

“I just didn’t feel I was going to be that good a teacher,” Heck said.

He then became involved in the restaurant business and managed a Corona del Mar restaurant for 12 years before he opened an ice cream store three years ago.

Along the way, he heard about the opportunities for walk-on coaches.

“What a great thing for me,” Heck said.

At any rate, it can be tiring. After starting the work day at 7:30, then conducting practice or going to a game, Heck often goes back to work and doesn’t head home until 10 p.m.

Heck’s second job--coaching--keeps him in close contact with the same age group that provides many of his customers and employees.

Heck won’t hire a current ballplayer--it could put extra pressure on both employee and employer, he says--but a former Newport Harbor player is now one of the store managers. Between his school contacts and those of his wife, Cathy, who has taught at Southern California Christian High School, Heck figures he has a head start on finding good employees and working well with them.

“Other franchisees say, ‘Aren’t you having a terrible time with employees?’ ” Heck said. And I say, “No.”

Although Heck seems more than pleased with his coaching job, Newport Harbor has not yet had the success he would like.

As a bit of proof, the Sailors’ record: 0-5-1 in the Sea View League, 3-8-1 overall.

“The record doesn’t reflect my enthusiasm,” Heck said. “For me, this has been a blessing.”

When Heck began coaching, it may not have seemed like a blessing to the players.

“The first year, they hated me,” Heck said. “I made them rake (the field) and mow.

“Their habits were so bad,” said Heck, who became the sixth Newport Harbor baseball coach in six years when he began coaching.

“I made them work hard, but I think down deep they wanted to work hard,” said Heck, adding that the lack of a strong baseball tradition at Newport Harbor has sometimes made it difficult to recruit the best athletes.

“All we need is to get a couple of wins, beat Tustin a couple of times, and everything will be swell.”

Heck will have to be patient a little longer. The Sailors lost to league-leading Tustin yesterday, 11-4.