CHARLES CHATMAN

Steve Virgen

Costa Mesa High was a place Charles Chatman called home. He had

attended two high schools before transferring to Costa Mesa in 1993.

Once he became familiar with his surroundings, he quickly became one

of the favorites for the Mustangs.

“When I transferred in, there was one thing I noticed and that was

how well everyone got along,” Chatman said. “In my junior year, we

went to the CIF [Southern Section Division VIII] final. I transferred

to Costa Mesa that year and so did Dewayne Crenshaw. They took us in

like we were their own. It was cool.

“We won [the Pacific Coast League] that year,” he continued. “It

was awesome. No one expected that from Costa Mesa. It was just one of

those special seasons.”

Chatman displayed his superior athletic abilities on the football

field as a running back and defensive back, as well as on the

baseball field as a center fielder. He contributed largely as a

defensive back during his junior season.

In his senior season, Chapman stood out more as a running back as

he rushed for 2,511 yards and 29 touchdowns on 244 carries in 1994.

He was the primary ball carrier in nine of the 11 games, averaging

228.3 yards per game and 10.3 yards per carry.

His friend and teammate, Crenshaw, endured injuries and the

Mustangs depended on Chatman a bit more. Against Aliso Niguel, in

Week 7, Chatman rushed for a Newort-Mesa single-game-record 414 yards

and three touchdowns on 43 carries, leading Mesa to the victory.

“I had a great year, but the season was a disappointment,” Chatman

said. “We lost in the first round of the playoffs. We came into the

year and Dewayne was going to be the guy. I was just going to be a

backup.”

Off the playing field, Chatman found comfort at Costa Mesa and was

greatly influenced by head football coach Myron Miller. Chatman is

now a coach and puts into action the many methods Miller used.

Chatman had been coaching the running backs as part of Miller’s staff

at Tustin High and worked with many athletes, including DeShaun

Foster.

In November of 2002, Chatman was hired as head baseball coach at

Bolsa Grande High.

“He’s my mentor,” Chatman said of Miller. “I honestly believe I

wouldn’t be the man I am today without Myron Miller. The way I

interact with my wife and child and the way I interact with my

players as coach, all those things I got from Myron.”

After Chatman’s senior season that produced ping-pong numbers, he

played at Golden West College and led the team in rushing and

receiving as a sophomore. Then, he transferred to Kent State. He had

planned to play baseball and football there, but after a coaching

change, he was told he had to choose one or the other. He decided to

come back to Orange County and play baseball at Concordia.

After Concordia, Chatman went to Evansville, Ind. to play

independent baseball. He played for one year, but then was involved

in a freak accident. While standing outside the batting cage, Chatman

took a ball to the mouth. The ball went through the net and knocked

three teeth out. He said he is still recovering from the accident.

Chatman, 25, and the latest honoree of the Daily Pilot Sports Hall

of Fame, lives in Huntington Beach.

“I’m happily married [with Tiffany],” he said. “We have a

beautiful seven-month-old son, Charles III. We call him Tre.”