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Buena Park aquatics coach Shane LaFortune, a former Orange County coach of the year, said he has resigned as the Coyotes’ coach for boys and girls water polo and swimming.
LaFortune said he was placed on leave while in-season with the boys water polo team in early September. He said he later resigned from his coaching duties after being told that the school wanted to go in a different direction.
“It was a shock,” said LaFortune, who added that he remains an instructional aid for the Fullerton Joint Union High School District. “(Buena Park has) a special place in my heart.”
Buena Park principal Sonje Berg and district assistant superintendent Karl Zener didn’t respond to messages this week seeking comment about LaFortune, who has coached water polo at the school since 2018.
LaFortune, an alumnus of Buena Park, earned Orange County girls water polo co-coach of the year in 2019 after teaming with Ted Clark to guide the Coyotes to the CIF-SS Division 6 title.
It was the school’s first section title in aquatics, and put LaFortune on the county’s water polo map as a young coach.
Buena Park’s girls consistently reached the playoffs under LaFortune from the challenging Freeway League.
Last winter in its first season in the Empire League, Buena Park captured the league title and made the second round of the Division 2 playoffs.
In 2024, Buena Park’s girls advanced to the Division 3 semifinals.
LaFortune led the boys to the second round of the Division 4 playoffs last fall.
The Coyotes’ boys reached the Division 5 semifinals in 2022.
Between the boys and girls water polo programs, LaFortune compiled a combined 236 coaching victories and mentored three league MVPs.
LaFortune said he taught many of his players to swim and stressed academics.
An online petition for his reinstatement has generated more than 200 signatures. Several parents and players spoke emotionally on LaFortune’s behalf at the Fullerton district board meeting Sept. 9.
This fall, Buena Park’s boys are 11-7, including a 2-1 record in the Empire League.