Orris is stepping to plate

It was announced Wednesday that former Corona del Mar High boys’ basketball coach Paul Orris would replace Jerry Jelnick as the school’s boys’ athletic director.

Turns out, that was only half the story.

Orris will also oversee the girls’ athletic program, a job formerly handled by Dawn Payne.

Orris, who coached boys’ basketball for 31 seasons, including 15 with the varsity before retiring from coaching following the 2001-02 season, said the challenge of running the show is something he did not originally embrace.

“When they talked to me about the job, my first reaction was ‘No way,’ ” Orris, 59, said. “Then I thought about it more and it started to sound interesting.”

CdM Principal Fal Asrani played on Orris’ loyalty to the school and his experience to convince him that he was the man for the job.

“There was some arm-twisting,” Orris said. “With Jerry stepping down, the principal definitely did some arm-twisting. She wanted someone who was on campus and had some knowledge already of Corona del Mar athletics.”

Orris definitely fits the bill. He started working at CdM in 1970 as a math teacher.

He spent 16 seasons coaching the freshman boys’ basketball team, before replacing legendary Jack Errion as varsity coach after the 1985-86 season.

Orris led the CdM varsity team to five CIF Southern Section title-game appearances, including two CIF Division IV-AA championships.

Known for teaching strong, aggressive, man-to-man defense, he compiled a 229-199 record, including a 29-10 mark in the CIF playoffs.

He retired from coaching, he said, in order to free up more personal time.

That personal time will be severely cut into by his new duties.

“Maybe I don’t know what I’m getting myself into,” Orris said. “But there was a need, so I’ll give it a whirl.”

Orris will continue to teach math. His class load will be cut to three classes each day, after which he will devote his time to the athletic director job.

“I know the time factor will go up,” Orris said, “because one of the responsibilities of the job is to be at as many varsity games as possible. But I really enjoy the athletic events and seeing the student-athletes compete.”

Orris believes the exposure he has had with the kids in both an academic and athletic environment will prove beneficial.

“I think that opens up communication and understanding,” Orris said.

The former basketball coach already has a good reputation around campus.

“He’s a great communicator and organizer,” Jelnick said.

One of Orris’ goals as he embarks upon his new job is to increase communication between all the CdM coaches.

“We don’t have as many on-campus coaches as we did 20 years ago,” Orris said. “That makes it more difficult to meet regularly with each other. But that’s something I’ll try to enhance.”

While his coaching background is in basketball, Orris says he’ll be a man for all sports.

“Certainly basketball has been near and dear to my heart,” Orris said. “But the role I perceive of the athletic director is to support and nurture the whole athletic program.”