HASTINGS STEPS DOWN AS POINTERS COACH
Mike Hastings, who succeeded in the unenviable task of replacing legendary football coach Bennie Edens at Point Loma High, has resigned after 22 years leading the Pointers.
“This was a hard decision, but it’s the right one for me,” said Hastings, 52. “There is always a time to step away, and this is the time for me.”
Hastings said that while his health is good, there is a history of high blood pressure in his family.
“This is about a life change,” said Hastings who also helped coach softball at Point Loma. “I want to enjoy time at home.”
Hastings said he was looking forward to having the freedom to get away for a weekend to do things like visit his daughter, who is a freshman at Cal Poly, where Hastings played football and hasn’t been back to see a game.
Hastings leaves with a 148-105-4 record. The 148 wins rank him 17th all-time in county history.
From 2002-2015, the Pointers were one of the most-feared teams in the county, posting a 115-54-2 record with only one losing season in that stretch.
The 2005 team was 12-1 and won the Eastern League championship before losing to St. Augustine in the San Diego Section Division III title game.
That 2005 season was the start of a three-year, championship-game title run; the Pointers lost to St.
Augustine again in 2006 and to Cathedral Catholic in 2007.
Hastings spent four years as an assistant on Edens’ staff before taking over as head coach in 1998.
Edens, who replaced Don Giddings, coached 43 years at Point
Loma, finishing with a 238-173-17 record, third all-time behind Herb Meyer (339) and John Carroll (248).
The Pointers, however, were 0-10 in 1997, Edens’ last season.
“When I took over, I vowed to rebuild the program,” Hastings said.
“It took a little time (going 13-27-2 in his first four years), but then we got on a great run starting in 2002. “Those were special times.” The Pointers have had eight former players land in the NFL, including La’Roi Glover and J.J. Stokes when Hastings was an assistant under Edens and Jamal Agnew and Jimmy Wilson when Hastings was the head coach.
Kelly Lowry, principal at Point Loma, said he’ll begin a search for the next head football coach immediately.
“Point Loma High has only had three head coaches since 1946,” Lowry said in an email. “I hope we can find another individual that can carry on that tradition of on-thefield success and off-the-field mentorship for the Point Loma community.
“Point Loma High School is thankful for his service. ... The Point Loma community has benefited from his efforts and his presence. For 26 years Mike has guided young student-athletes to success on the football field.
“More importantly, through football Mike has taught the important life skills of personal integrity, self-discipline, teamwork, dedication, and goal-completion.”
Hastings said he’s hopeful the new hire will come from someone on his staff.
Hastings will remain at the school as a PE teacher.
“I have five or six years before I retire completely,” Hastings said. “I’ll still be around to mentor kids. I’ll still be around to coach the coaches.
“But I have other chapters to write in my life.”