Costa football coach Don Morrow becomes new athletic director

By Ian Rapoport
Staff Writer

After the departure of former Vice Principal Paula Hart as athletic director, football coach and former chemistry teacher Don Morrow was appointed to the position over the summer.

The search for Hart’s replacement took up the majority of the summer. Principal Dr. Ben Dale approached Morrow regarding the position of athletic director.

“When I had a conversation with him, I said, ‘Mira Costa needs you to be athletic director,’ and he agreed,” Dale said. “As a principal, you have good days and you have bad days, and that definitely was a good day.”

Morrow has nearly 30 years experience of teaching and 20 years experience of coaching football.

“I have a long-time interest in athletics, and I also have a long time interest in Mira Costa athletics,” Morrow said. “I have been in the classroom for 30 years now, and I thought that the career change at this point might be interesting.”

Morrow’s decision has not been without consequences. In order to become the new athletic director, he had to give up his position as a chemistry teacher.

“I love the classroom, and I miss being there, and I’m really missing it right now,” Morrow said. “I hope this new job might end up outweighing that.”

Morrow still has his football coach position as well as athletic director. Morrow believes that his new seat in the Athletic Department won’t affect his coaching.

“I have unbelievable help on the football field,” Morrow said. “From coach Lee to coach Arrasmith to coach Wicks to coach Cooper, these guys are unbelievable helpers. They’ve been with me forever.”

Morrow is already facing obstacles as the new athletic director. One of those obstacles would be adjusting to the different organization style of the position.

“For right now, it’s just being new,” Morrow said. “You’re trying to learn on the fly. The organizational skills are different from everything I’m used to in the classroom and on the field. You have to set up a new kind of organization.”

Morrow has plenty of support from his fellow colleagues. Although he will be missed in the Science Department, many teachers and coaches feel he is the right choice as the new athletic director.

“He’s an exceptional fit to the program,” cross country coach Robert Calderone said. “He is already used to the athletics, and I am really excited to have him.”

Although the majority of the athletic director’s job is dealing with such things as scheduling, contracts, buses and meeting with other athletic directors. It also includes facilitating camaraderie between the many people involved in sports who are very important to Morrow with this new position.

“One of my main goals is to create even more of a fraternity between all of the different coaches,” Morrow said. “What I am hoping is to play a mentor role.”