Pirates coaching great Janice Maran set to retire
COSTA MESA -- Janice Maran, longtime Orange Coast College women's tennis coach who helped guide the Pirates to eight state championships and over 450 wins, has decided to retire after 35 standout seasons.
"It's hard to believe that I've spent over half of my life here at Orange Coast and I have never tired of it," Maran said. "I have been so fortunate in having the perfect job for me. I love the students and all of the crazy energy they bring. I also love my colleagues, who have become life-long friends and the utter enjoyment of offering an opportunity to enhance these young people's lives through health and fitness."
Maran will be leaving OCC as one of the all-time greats. After joining the staff in 1978, Maran has built one of the most consistent programs in all of California Community College athletics.
The numbers speak for themselves ...
- 477 wins, 96 losses, two ties -- an .831 winning percentage
- Eight state championships
- 23 conference championships
- 31 top-two finishes in conference
- 16 undefeated conference seasons
- Eight-time Ojai Invitational championships
- 30 seasons with three-or-fewer losses
- Five singles state champions
- Eight doubles state champions
- Eight OCC Female Athletes of the Year
"Janice has been a mentor to all of us, not just in the Orange Empire Conference, but throughout the state," Fullerton College women's tennis coach and Athletic Director Scott Giles said. "She is a legend in the world of tennis at this level. She is a competitor and wants to win, but she's also the first to come up to you and say, 'congrats' if you happen to beat her. When
I came to Fullerton, I wanted to follow her lead and I know she will be greatly missed."
In addition to her team's success, Maran has also been recognized for her tremendous work at OCC. She was named the National Coach of the Year in 1999, the California Coach of the Year (1987, 1999) and Orange Empire Conference Coach of the Year numerous times.
"Janice is the consummate teacher and coach," former Athletic Director and longtime co-worker Barbara Bond said of Maran. "She was as passionate and committed to her students the day she retired as she was on her very first day of teaching at Coast. Her reputation as a tennis coach and leader amongst her colleagues in the state is outstanding and she did much to further the image of OCC athletics at the state level. I truly enjoyed working with her for the 35 years I was at Coast. We have a lasting friendship that I cherish and I am certain she will be missed at OCC."
In 2009, the California Community College Coaches Association honored Maran by selecting her for the 4CA Coaching Achievement Award. The award honors members of the California Community College Coaching profession who show exemplary participation, dedication and contributions to sport. The recipient coach exhibits leadership and high ethical values in addition to providing an outstanding role model for student-athletes and future professionals.
"The many notes and letters I have received through the years from students thanking me for encouraging them to move on and what a difference it has made in their lives, makes me smile," Maran said. "How great is that?"
