Questionable ‘Association’ Prompts Smith to Quit at Huntington Beach

After consulting with the Southern Section and the Huntington Beach administration about his role with the Wolfpack Soccer Club, Kevin Smith resigned Monday as the Oiler boys’ soccer coach.

“The CIF felt that the role I have in the club is a very influential position,” said Smith, assistant director of coaching for the Wolfpack. “They felt that I could abuse my situation . . . or have control of the players. Once that was explained to me, then I realized I needed to step down.”

Smith, in his second year at Huntington Beach and his ninth as a high school coach, took a leave of absence last week after he was accused of coaching his under-19 Wolfpack team during the school year in violation of the section’s “association rule.”

Huntington Beach announced Smith’s departure in a press release signed by Principal Frank Berry. Berry was not available for comment, but Skip Moyer, Huntington Beach’s vice principal, said the school did not force Smith to leave and he left the door open for Smith’s return.

“Kevin needs to look at his role with the [Wolfpack] and his desire to continue as a head coach at Huntington Beach,” Moyer said.

Huntington Beach Athletic Director Dave Van Hoorebeke said the team, which is off to a 5-0-1 start, took Smith’s resignation hard.

“They’re kind of glum,” he said. “Kevin’s their leader and he’s a good leader. He knows his soccer. And they know the potential they have.”

Assistant John Clark, 19, has coached the team to a 2-0-1 record during Smith’s absence. Smith said he will help the school find an interim coach to complete the season. But he didn’t sound optimistic about returning next year.

“Coaching high school soccer is a job that I love doing,” Smith said. “I’m not doing it to get rich or to make a living. I make my living off my club coaching. I’ve got to take care of that first.

“I’m leaving the door open on a return next fall. I want to see if it can work, but I don’t think it can. I would have to isolate myself away from any team that had high school players on it. That would be impossible to do.”

One of the options Smith or other club/high school coaches could explore is a lawsuit challenging the association rule.

“There’s a lot of people that could fall under the same umbrella as me,” Smith said. “There are a lot of high school coaches that would hope this would change something. It is a big problem that needs to be addressed.”

The section office spoke with Smith and Huntington Beach about Smith’s role with the club and the association rule. But Thom Simmons, the section’s sports information director, said his office was not involved in Smith’s decision.

Smith said he will continue to follow the team but he seemed ready to move on.

“I don’t want to take anything away from what the kids are doing,” he said. “Let’s get back to what high school sports is about, the kids.

“The team is going to be fine. I don’t think it is going to be too affected. They’re a focused group of guys.”

UNDERRATED GRIFFINS

No one has talked much about the Los Alamitos soccer team, partly because its scores aren’t being called in to local newspapers. But the Griffins are off to a 4-0-2 start, despite the fact leading scorer Michael Munoz has appeared in just two games because of ankle and groin injuries. Munoz, who has committed to Cal, already has four goals. Junior midfielder Cameron Kolovos has five assists.

LOOKING AHEAD

Second-ranked Woodbridge, eighth-ranked Dana Hills and unranked Brea Olinda and Sonora are the premier teams in the 16-team Brea Olinda tournament, which opens today and concludes Saturday.

The eight-team Magnolia tournament also begins today and wraps up on Saturday. The teams entered are Laguna Beach, Magnolia, Kennedy, Santiago, Savanna, Rancho Alamitos, Corona del Mar and Ocean View.

Third-ranked El Dorado, fourth-ranked Santa Margarita and Los Alamitos headline the field in the South Torrance tournament, which opens Wednesday and concludes Saturday.

If you have an item or idea for the boys’ soccer report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at david.mckibben@latimes.com

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BOYS’ SOCCER TOP 10

Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll

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Pos. School (League) Rec 1. Woodbridge (Sea View) 4-1-2 2. Mater Dei (Serra) 8-0-1 3. El Dorado (Empire) 5-1-2 4. Santa Margarita (Serra) 8-1 5. Huntington Beach (Sunset) 6-0-1 6. Capistrano Valley (S. Coast) 10-1-2 7. Fountain Valley (Sunset) 4-1-2 8. Dana Hills (South Coast) 4-0-2 9. Esperanza (Sunset) 7-1-1 10. Edison (Sunset) 2-0-3

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