Ed Bowen Resigns as Laguna Beach Boys’ Basketball Coach

Ed Bowen has resigned as the Laguna Beach High School boys’ basketball coach, nearly a month after guiding the Artists to one of their best seasons.

“I planned it at the start of the year,” Bowen said. “I just didn’t tell anyone.”

Last season, Bowen coached the Artists to a 23-7 record, the Southern Section 2-A championship game and the Southern California Regional Division IV semifinals.

“This is a young man’s game, it’s a tough game,” said Bowen, 57. “The team did a real good job this year. It’s almost the end of my teaching career, and I thought it was a good year to leave.

“I have some great memories of this season. I guess I wanted to go out in front of the parade instead of behind it.”

The parade started in 1958, when Bowen became an industrial arts teacher at the school. He became the boys’ basketball coach in 1960, a position he held until 1968.

He coached the Artists to the Division 1-A championship in 1962 and to the Southern Section 2-A finals the next season.

Bowen said he quit coaching in 1968 because Laguna Beach moved from the Orange League, a group of small schools, to the Irvine League, composed of larger schools. He said he was frustrated trying to compete against larger schools.

He resumed coaching duties in 1985, compiling a 63-59 record in five seasons.

Bowen, who will continue to teach at Laguna Beach, said he kept his resignation plan quiet so it wouldn’t distract the team. He also made no mention of it at the team’s postseason banquet Thursday.

“I didn’t want to spoil the banquet,” Bowen said. “I wanted to let the kids have all the glory.”

No decision has been made on a replacement, Bowen said.