Popovich Steps Down as Marina’s Basketball Coach

Steve Popovich, one of the most successful boys’ basketball coaches in Orange County, resigned Monday after 19 years at Marina High School.

Popovich, 44, said he accepted a teaching and coaching position at a high school near Denver. He said he could not name the specific school until details were finalized.

“I’m going to miss being here in Orange County--I couldn’t ask for more,” Popovich said. “The school district has been a big part of my life for 20 years. But I just looked at this opportunity and said if I’m going to make a change, now’s the time. Either that or they’re going to have to bury me at half court.”

Popovich took over the Marina varsity in 1975 after a 47-5 record during two years as junior varsity coach. In Popovich’s first season, with standout guard Rich Branning, the Vikings went 22-5.

Since then, Marina has won six Sunset League titles, including the past three.

Last season might have been Popovich’s finest. After five consecutive years with a dominant center--6-foot-11 Cherokee Parks (1988-91) and 6-10 Mark Georgeson (1985-88)--Popovich coached an undersized squad to an 18-10 record, losing in the second round of the Division I-AA playoffs.

He leaves Marina with a career record of 268-161.

Popovich, who also interviewed for the men’s basketball job at Orange Coast College--a position that went to Estancia Coach Tim O’Brien last week--said he decided to move on because the opportunity was too good to pass up.

“The school’s only three years old, it hasn’t even had a senior class yet,” said Popovich, who will also teach geography and world history.

“(Leaving Marina) isn’t easy. It’s really difficult. But we had to look at the whole picture. Our kids (Marc, 11, and Alison, 9) are getting older. If we were going to make a move, I knew this was the time.”

Marina Athletic Director Larry Doyle said the school will begin accepting applications to fill the position immediately. Unless the hiring comes from within the school district, the job will likely be a non-teaching position, Doyle said.