School Board Refuses to Reinstate Gibbons as Coach at Ocean View

The Huntington Beach Union School District Board of Trustees has rejected an appeal by Bill Gibbons to be reinstated as baseball coach at Ocean View High School, according to Gary Christopherson, president of the school’s baseball booster club.

Gibbons, who was relieved of his coaching duties by Principal John Myers on June 17, had requested a hearing before the board on June 21. The hearing was held Wednesday morning, and Gibbons was informed by mail of the board’s decision not to rehire him, Christopherson said Thursday. Gibbons will remain at the school as a history teacher.

David Warfield, president of the board, declined to comment. Gibbons was unavailable for comment.

“Bill told me today he got a letter saying the board was going to abide by the advice of the principal, or words to that effect,” Christopherson said. “I really thought justice would ring out.”

Gibbons had led the Seahawks to three Sunset League championships since 1985. He has coached at the school for 8 of the last 10 years, taking two years off to work on a law degree.

Myers declined to state the reason for the decision not to rehire Gibbons. Myers has named Steve Barrett, the Seahawks’ sophomore-freshman coach, as varsity coach.

However, Gibbons said his removal stemmed from incidents that occurred during a tournament at San Luis Obispo during spring break.

After the trip, three players, who had received permission to drive to the tournament on their own instead of traveling with the team, were suspended 45 days for violating team rules.

After his dismissal, Gibbons received strong support from parents, many of whom attended the June 21 board meeting to protest Gibbon’s removal.