Most Area Prep Coaches Appear to Be Staying Put

After four years as Gardena High’s football and baseball coach, Mike Sakurai decided he needed more time to himself.

Sakurai will no longer coach football.

Another South Bay prep football coach weighing his options is Morningside’s Ron Tatum.

Although Sakurai and Tatum are considering cutting back or getting out of the business, most other area coaches, barring unforeseen circumstances, said they will be back for the 1993 season.

“It might sound selfish, but I couldn’t devote as much time to myself,” Sakurai said, laughing. “Now I can go work on my golf game.”

It was a disappointing season for Gardena coaches and players. The Mohicans were 1-6 in the Southern Pacific Conference and 3-7 overall.

“I enjoyed (coaching) both sports,” said Sakurai, Gardena’s longtime baseball coach. “But I felt I had to do just one. Spring is very important for football and I couldn’t devote time to it because of my commitment to baseball.”

After eight seasons at Morningside, Tatum remains undecided about his coaching future. Part of his concern revolves around the financial responsibilities sending his son through college. The time involved in coaching high school football could be used for more lucrative work, Tatum said.

Another concern for Tatum is the degree of commitment the Morningside coaching staff and administrators have toward the future of the program.

“In order to stay at a competitive level, a change needs to be made,” Tatum said. “A little more time needs to be given and we need to know what our objectives are.”

Leuzinger Coach Steve Carnes, whose career record stands at 68-31-5, cut short his retirement from high school football after a year off. He came back last season to guide the Olympians to a 6-5 record.

Carnes, who began his coaching career in 1979 at Lawndale High, is also the assistant principal at Leuzinger. Although he said his position is status quo, he will talk to the school’s principal before making a commitment.

In his previous years as a teacher, he could concentrate more on coaching than as an administrator who normally works until 4 p.m. (football practice begins at 2 p.m.) and has numerous duties, he said.

“Coaching cuts into administrative time and the situation is different if you’re teaching,” Carnes said. “This year, I wasn’t able to concentrate on football as much.”