Churchill resigns as Laguna football coach

Mike Churchill knew the day was coming.

Late Tuesday night, it became official.

Churchill, who has guided the Laguna Beach High football program for the past two years, stepped down as its head coach. His replacement comes from the current varsity coaching staff: Corey Brown, who coached varsity quarterbacks and special teams personnel, and was head coach of the Laguna frosh/soph team, was appointed Tuesday as Churchill's successor.

Churchill, who took on the head coaching job after Jonathan Todd resigned at the end of the 2010 season, will remain as the school's athletic director.

"When Coach Todd left, we didn't really have anybody to fill the position, so I became tender of the team," Churchill said. "The whole idea was to get somebody in here to take over the position in the near future, and Corey Brown fits the part. He's been with our football program for three years and has been on campus for four years. The parents all like him and the kids love him. I'll do everything I can to help Corey out."

The Laguna position is the first head coaching job for the 27-year-old Brown.

"Representing this school, this community, and inspiring the kids to do well not just in football, but in the classroom, as well, is really an amazing opportunity for me," Brown said. "The support here on campus, from the administration and school board, has been so encouraging since they approved my becoming the new head coach on Tuesday. I've developed a rapport with the kids and parents these past few years and it makes it a lot less stressful to have all this support."

Under Churchill's direction the last two years, Laguna rose to become a league champion and CIF Southern Section contender. His first team, the 2011 squad, went 10-3 and reached the semifinal round of the Southern Division playoffs.

His final team, the 2012 group, won an outright Orange Coast League championship and again made it to the Southern Division semifinals.

Among the numerous individual and team program records the Breakers set over the past two years, this year's team won the most games (11) in a single season in school history.