Laguna Hills Coach Says He Won’t Quit

Laguna Hills football Coach Steve Bresnahan said Tuesday he was still stinging from a letter written by the city’s mayor criticizing his coaching staff’s integrity, but said he’s no longer considering resigning because he feels he is being supported by his district’s superintendent.

Peter Hartman, superintendent of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, said he sides with Bresnahan and Mayor Craig Scott.

“I think Steve is a great guy, he has a great coaching staff and he cares for the kids,” said Hartman, who spoke with Bresnahan Tuesday morning. “If the mayor’s point was that all kids should get to play, I would like to think the school board, the principal, the city council and the coaching staff all agree on that point.

“I also think winning is important in high school sports, and when you’re in the heat of battle, sometimes you don’t stop and think. It’s always good to be reminded of that. It’s unfortunate it happened this way. I just wish we could have resolved it short of a letter.”

Scott said he never intended for Bresnahan to consider stepping down.

“I’m sorry if that happened because it wasn’t my objective,” Scott said. “I’m simply seeking a change in perspective in all of high school sports, not just football.”

Scott’s son, Tyson, and many other reserves did not play in Laguna Hills’ 56-14 victory over La Mirada Dec. 12 in the Southern Section Division VIII title game. The mayor asked in a letter to The Times Orange County, “Why is the pursuit of not just victory, but crushing victory, more important than participation? Why do parents and administrators allow coaches to be so heartless?”

By early Tuesday afternoon, Scott said 90% of the letters and faxes he was receiving supported his position.

“A lot of people were saying, ‘Right on, it’s about time somebody spoke out on this issue,’ ” Scott said. “What’s really happening is people are coming out of the closet and saying, ‘This is the way I’ve felt but I’ve never had the guts to say anything. We’re glad you did.’ ”

One person who wasn’t glad Scott spoke out publicly is fellow councilman Allan Songstad.

“Had I known this letter was going out on city stationery, I would have tried to do something,” said Songstad, whose one-year term as mayor of Laguna Hills expired two weeks ago. “What he did is totally inappropriate as a city official. The city council looks like idiots. We’re not idiots.

“What’s lost in all this is the kids and the coaching staff who worked so hard to win a title. That’s all lost because Craig Scott’s kid didn’t get to play.”

Bresnahan said Monday he should have, in retrospect, given more players a chance to participate in the title game.

“The letter went way beyond that,” he said. “Those are some pretty harsh words. I think the mayor needs to be reminded that there is a lot more to it than what goes on between 7:30 and 9:30 on Friday nights.

“I certainly don’t need the support of the mayor, but I’d like to think I have the support of the people of Laguna Hills. . . . What’s more important is we need to get back to the focus of what this is all about, the kids who won the CIF title.”

The Laguna Hills football team will be honored at city hall on Jan. 27, and Bresnahan is expected to speak during the ceremony.

“Whatever differences the coach and I have should not affect what the players have done,” Scott said.