Walk-On Hattrup Walks Off : Basketball: Coach of dominating Brea-Olinda girls’ basketball team shocks administrators, coaches with decision to resign after just one season.

John Hattrup, who coached the Brea-Olinda girls’ basketball team to an unbeaten season, the State title and a No. 1 national ranking, has resigned after only one year on the job.

A walk-on coach whose trademark was intense preparation, Hattrup, who resigned Tuesday, said Wednesday he was looking for a job with more permanence.

Hattrup, 35, taught two physical education classes at Brea, a physical education class at Brea Junior High, and was a substitute the other three class periods. He will no longer teach those classes.

“I think I’ve done everything there that I can do,” he said. “I’ve been there seven years and I’ve been coaching for 17. I think it’s time to move on and do something else.”

The possibilities include coaching either men or women at the collegiate level, or return to high schools.

“I’m not going to coach unless I have a full-time job, and it’s going to have to be in physical education, and that’s a hard match,” Hattrup said. “There’s more to life than teaching and coaching. If something doesn’t work out in that area, I’ll find something else to do. It’s not the end of the world.”

During his seven years at Brea, the team won six Southern Section championships and five State titles. He was quickly named to succeed Mark Trakh last year when Trakh became head coach at Pepperdine.

“It was a little surprising, but his resignation stated that he’s looking for a full-time teaching job,” Brea Principal John Johnson said. “I think he must have a pretty good feel for maybe an assistant or head college coaching situation.

“If he feels this is best for him, I certainly can understand that. He was coach of a national championship team. There’s a chance he’s taking advantage of that. There’s no place else for him to go in the high school ranks.”

Hattrup coached 10 years at Mission Viejo High--beginning while he was a sophomore at Saddleback College--and produced a 215-55 record, including two section titles and a State championship game appearance in 1982.

In his only year as Brea’s head coach, Hattrup directed the Ladycats to a 33-0 record and the State Division III title. They were ranked No. 1 in USA Today’s national poll.

“(Trakh) said last year that he had done everything, you know, ‘What else is there to do?,’ ” Hattrup said. “The only thing left was to win a national championship. And now that’s been done. I think it’s a good time to move on and let someone else create their own program.

“I’ve coached 17 straight years--maybe it’s time to take a step back. To go out with a national championship is a good way to end things. I’m happy with what I did there. I think it’s time to move on to other things. Get someone in there and start a new era because one era is basically coming to an end.”

That would be the Nicole Erickson era. The senior point guard led the Ladycats to a 130-5 record and four State titles during her four years as a starter. Brea has won the State title a record five times in six years.

The announcement caught other coaches off guard, even ones who had close working relationships with him.

“I’m stunned, shocked, surprised--take your choice,” Newport Harbor assistant Jack Jakosky said.

El Dorado Coach Gary Raya was equally surprised after speaking with Hattrup: “I couldn’t believe it when he said, ‘It’s true.’ He must have felt really strongly to walk away.”

Hattrup informed players Tuesday afternoon. He said he began considering the decision “two or three weeks” ago and that it was his alone to make.

“I didn’t have any pressure from anybody,” he said.

“I’ve never done anything else (besides coach), so it’s hard to evaluate if I’m missing anything, but you do have to evaluate how much time you put into something and if it’s really worth it. Last year, we didn’t leave any rock unturned--you can’t when you’re playing at this level. Everybody at times needs to step back and look at what’s going on. Right now, my future is up for grabs.”