Kevin Conlin resigns at Estancia High to become Portola’s varsity baseball coach

Portola players leave the field after a meeting last season. (File photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Former University High baseball standout Kevin Conlin, who has been head coach at Estancia the past two seasons, has been named Portola High’s new varsity baseball coach, according to Athletic Director Katie Levensailor.

The announcement was made to Portola baseball parents on Thursday, Levensailor said by E-mail to OC Sports Zone on Monday.

“Kevin was a two-sport athlete at University High School,” Levensailor said in a release. “He went on to play baseball at UCLA and graduated with a degree in history.  He has been an assistant coach at University, Northwood and Whittier College.

“He has spent the past two seasons as head coach at Estancia High School leading them to two playoff appearances, a league championship, and a CIF quarterfinals appearance, the first in 30 years.  Kevin and his wife Hillary live in Irvine and are expecting their first child, Hunter any day now.”

Estancia was 17-12 this past season and won the Orange Coast League title with a 10-5 record. It was the first league title in baseball for the school since 2010.

Conlin had a 34-26 record in two seasons at Estancia with two CIF playoff appearances. The Eagles reached the CIF Division 5 quarterfinal round, losing to top-seeded Riverside Poly 2-0 this past season.

Conlin, the son of former University baseball coach Chris Conlin, replaces Michael Nagamatsu, who resigned after one season. The Bulldogs were 5-17 overall and 2-13 in their first year of varsity competition.

Kevin Conlin is a 2001 graduate of University High.

Coach Conlin could not be reached for comment Monday.

RELATED: Estancia officials begin search for new coach

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com