Prep football: Rehling fired by Marina, steps aside as South coach

Barry Faulkner

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Mark Rehling, who had been selected to coach the

South in the 41st Orange County All-Star Football Game, announced Tuesday

he has been forced to resign after five seasons as head coach at Marina

High.

Rehling, a Marina graduate who has coached the last 27 seasons at his

alma mater, said the surprising decision by the Marina administration to

create “a change of vision and leadership,” after the program’s first CIF

Southern Section playoff appearance in seven years, will make continuing

as South coach problematic.

“I don’t want to put my assistants in an awkward position by asking them

to coach the All-Star Game with me, while they’re trying to build a

relationship with the new (Marina) coach,” Rehling said.

Rehling’s replacement as South coach will be announced Feb. 22 at the

Orange County Newsmakers luncheon at the Arrowhead Pond.

Rehling, who said he’ll continue to teach English at Marina, while

seeking a coaching position elsewhere, was 18-31-2 as a head coach.

The Vikings gave 13-0-1 Newport Harbor the only blemish on the Sailors’

CIF Division VI championship season last fall with a 21-21 nonleague tie.

Marina will play Newport Harbor for the sixth straight year in Week 2

next fall. The Vikings had played Corona del Mar the last 11 seasons, but

have discontinued the series.