CdM goes with Bonner to coach girls’ volleyball team

Pat Bonner, a successful club coach, is expected to be officially announced as Corona del Mar High’s new girls’ volleyball coach next week, said Steve Conti, the boys’ coach.

Conti, who turned down the school’s offer to return as the girls’ coach, said Bonner, a walk-on coach, is coming into a good situation.

Bonner will replace Bill Christiansen, a walk-on coach who resigned in November after posting a 134-65 record, winning four league championships and one CIF Southern Section championship during his seven years as head coach at CdM.

Christiansen cited family as the main reason for stepping down. Family is also a reason why Conti, who has won four section titles with the boys since 1995, said he didn’t accept the girls’ job.

“I just got some other commitments in my life, family, teaching, and going back to school to get my master’s [degree in administration],” said Conti, who guided the girls from 1997 to 2001, winning a section crown in his first year. “Even though I would’ve loved to have done it, I think they’re neat kids [on the team] and they have a lot of potential.”

“I’d like to think the job attracted some pretty good applicants. [Bonner has] only lived [in the area] a couple of years. He was an assistant at UCI for the women’s [volleyball] team.”

Bonner, who’s listed as an administrator on the Orange County Volleyball Club’s website, will have a young and talented group at CdM next season. Seven players are expected to return after the Sea Kings went 18-12, claimed the Pacific Coast League title by going 7-0, and reached the section semifinals and state playoffs.

Bonner, who’s from the San Diego area, won a CIF San Diego Section title as a volleyball player at University of San Diego High. Bonner played at San Diego State and he has had stints as an assistant at Alliant International University in San Diego and San Diego Mesa College.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza