Orange Coast Football Coach Workman Quits

Bill Workman, on the advice of his doctor, has stepped down after 13 seasons as the football coach at Orange Coast, he said Tuesday.

Mike Taylor, who has been an assistant at OCC since Workman took over in 1986, moved from defensive coordinator to head coach to replace his close friend.

Workman, 57, has had a major back operation and surgery for prostate cancer in the last five years. His back was so sore at the end of last season that he spent at least an hour a day getting treatment and often wore an ice pack during practice.

His doctor told him he was in danger of not being able to walk if he continued to coach football.

“My energy level wasn’t what it’s been in the past,” Workman said. “People look at me and they say I look healthy but they don’t know that I’ve had 14 surgeries and been in a major car accident. The time has come for me to take care of me because I’m not doing as well as I should.”

Workman, who is married with two daughters and five grandchildren, plans to remain a physical education teacher at OCC through the spring of 2001. He hopes to continue to recruit new players and help outgoing ones get scholarships.

Workman came to OCC as one of the most visible high school coaches in Southern California after leading Edison to a 109-33-5 record in 13 seasons. His teams won section titles in 1978, 1979 and 1985 and seven league titles.

Workman started well at OCC, building a 51-32 record in his first eight seasons and reaching three bowl games in that time.

But OCC slipped to 12-38 in the last five years, going 3-7 last season. Workman said he has been working harder than ever in an effort to return the program to its former level and said the mostly freshman team took a major step toward that last season.

“This is really a bad time to stop,” he said, “People will want to make something out of me leaving now, but I didn’t want to. If the cupboard was bare that would be one thing. But it isn’t . . . I’m excited for Mike Taylor and OCC football.”

Taylor, 46, played at Saddleback High, Santa Ana College and Oregon State. He joined Workman’s staff at Edison in 1977.

“I really think OCC is one of the best community colleges in the state,” Taylor said. “This is an opportunity in my life to make a much needed change. It will be great challenge, but I think I can energize the program.”