Attorney Says He Expects Brande Allegations to Be Dropped : Volleyball: Stuart Waldrip, who represents former Corona del Mar coach, points to erroneous statements in Southern Section investigation.

Stuart Waldrip, attorney for former Corona del Mar volleyball Coach Charlie Brande, said Tuesday that he expects all allegations against Brande to be dropped when the Southern Section makes its ruling later this week.

“Frankly, I expect Charlie to be exonerated of all wrongdoing,” said Waldrip, an attorney in Orange who was hired by parents of Corona del Mar volleyball players to defend Brande. “But our appeal process is in place and will clearly be taken if the ruling goes against Charlie.”

Brande, one of the most successful volleyball coaches in Orange County, was relieved of his duties as boys’ and girls’ coach last week in wake of an investigation by the Southern Section office.

Waldrip said Brande’s defense is based on several errors found in the reports that initiated the investigation last week.

“We (the defense) were able to point out erroneous statements in several of the reports to the Southern Section,” Waldrip said. “They were interpretations of newspaper articles and in fund-raising books that were just erroneous.

“I feel we’re on firm ground in proving Charlie did not break any rules.”

Stan Thomas, Southern Section commissioner of athletics, refused to discuss specifics of the case last week, but said he he hoped to make a ruling by Friday. Thomas was out of town Tuesday and could not be reached.

Meanwhile, Corona del Mar has hired Dale Flickinger of Redondo Beach to replace Brande as coach of the girls’ team.

Corona del Mar Principal Tom Jacobson said Brande’s temporary contract for the 1990-91 girls’ and boys’ seasons has not been renewed. Walk-on coaches such as Brande are hired on a year-to-year basis.

But there’s still a possibility that Brande, one of the winingest coaches in Orange County volleyball, could return if cleared of the allegations.

If Brande is penalized by the commissioner, he and Waldrip will appeal the decision to a Southern Section review panel. The last option is taking the case to court, Waldrip said.

Waldrip said the allegations against Brande involve the youth teams he coaches at the Balboa Bay Club (boys) and Orange County Club (girls).

Southern Section rules prohibit coaches from working with players outside of the regular season when the players still have high school eligibility remaining.