Dodd Leaves Huntington Beach, Will Coach Football at Marina

Mike Dodd became Marina’s football coach Thursday, immediately vacating the Huntington Beach baseball head coaching position he had held for 17 years.

The announcement ended speculation surrounding the future of Dodd, who was offered the job last week.

“It was a very sensitive situation because of his baseball program at Huntington Beach,” Marina Principal Carol Osbrink said. “That’s why we’ve been dragging our feet making any kind of announcement, because we wanted to give him the opportunity to do what he needed to do over there.”

Dodd, who addressed his new team for the first time Thursday, was the interim football coach for the Oilers during the 1996 season, leading them to a 3-7 record. He applied for the permanent job, but Huntington Beach hired current coach Tony Ciarelli.

Last season, Dodd was defensive coordinator for Orange Coast College’s football team.

Dodd will continue to teach at Huntington Beach for the remainder of the school year.

Huntington Beach Athletic Director Dave Van Hoorebeke has selected Oiler assistant baseball coach Ken Ostrowski as Dodd’s replacement.