Laguna Beach’s Man for All Sports Tries Hand at Football

Mike Roche, who has filled a number of athletic department roles in 20 years at Laguna Beach High, will take on the formidable task of coaching football at the school.

“He’s very organized, has a very positive rapport with students and staff, and he convinced us that he’s enthusiastic and can generate the kind of enthusiasm that can make this a successful football program,” Tim Sullivan, assistant principal, said Wednesday.

Roche replaces Mike Barron, who resigned in January after only one season. Laguna Beach was 1-9 last season, with its only victory over the Dana Hills junior varsity.

Pacific Coast League opponents outscored the Artists, 227-51, in five league games last season. League principals rejected a proposal by Laguna Beach administrators to pull out of the league and play a free-lance schedule next season.

Barron listed his frustrations with the league and the football program as reasons for his resignation. With an enrollment of 650, Laguna Beach is Orange County’s smallest public school. The varsity football roster had only 28 players last season.

Roche has been involved with the football program for 15 years as a varsity assistant and head coach at lower levels.

He previously coached in the basketball, tennis and baseball programs in the school and is currently head softball coach. Sullivan said he expects Roche to retain that role.

“He has two freshman daughters in the program,” Sullivan said.

Roche, who teaches English at Laguna Beach, played football at Bellflower St. John Bosco High School and Cerritos College. He has a masters degree from Cal State Fullerton.

In addition to athletics, he is involved in a number of academic and extracurricular programs at Laguna Beach.

“Mike has shown us his interest in the school through involvement in a variety of aspects of the program,” Sullivan said.