Mater Dei high school has parted ways with longtime baseball coach Burt Call. The news was shared via an email from school principal's office.

It’s official, Burt Call will not be returning to coach @MDHS_Baseball per an email release this afternoon. I say without hesitation that @burtcall8 is one of the best men I’ve had the opportunity to interact with. He will undoubtedly bounce back from this. @PBR_California pic.twitter.com/0nMQZbdcuH

— Les Lukach (@LesLukach) May 24, 2018

The separation between school and coach creates an opening for one of the most coveted jobs in the state of California, if not the country.

Under Call's leadership the Monarchs continued their tradition of winning by claiming nine league titles (1 South Coast League, 5 Serra League, 3 Trinity League), two CIF Championships (2005, 2010), and the first two NHSI Championships (2012, 2013).

Call has sent countless players to both the collegiate and professional ranks, many of whom have seen time in the Major Leagues.

If you take baseball out of the picture what you have is one of the finest human beings you'll ever be around. Call is admired and respected by all of those he's come in contact with.

"He's absolutely a man of character and someone I've looked up to since middle school," said Chris Ashbach, head coach at Mission Viejo who grew up watching Call dominate three sports at Capo Valley High School. "He's a good man. A great man. There's no doubt he'll land softly somewhere."

"Burt was the model citizen for our league. A man who is well respected in Orange County and around the nation," said Brett Kay, head coach at JSerra who has coached against Call for the last 12 years and worked alongside him in running the Boras Classic the last six. "He'll go down as one of the best athletes in Orange County and one of the best coaches for what he did at Mater Dei and their baseball program."

"Burt Call is a great coach, but he's a better person," said OC Register reporter Steve Fryer who covered Call's entire career as head coach at Mater Dei. "He's one of the more decent people that I've ever covered. He is kind to everybody including sportswriters like me asking a dumb question. He treats everybody with kindness and respect and you don't always get that from coaches at programs in Orange County at that high level athletics."

So, after today's news it begs the question, where does Mater Dei Baseball go from here? It's a baseball program that hasn't had to search for a new head coach for over 40 years. It's one that is steeped in tradition from it's legendary coaches to it's laundry list of players that have gone on to achieve enviable levels of success in the game both collegiately and professionally. It is a program that is certain to attract a who's who of applicants, many locally and certainly some nationally.

There have been rumors and rumblings for some time that this news was coming and with that there have been names bantered around as a possible replacement. While nothing is imminent and the position is open - "qualified candidates" can apply by sending a resume in to [email protected] - there are names of potential replacements being talked about in baseball circles.

Many of these names are current head coaches in the Orange County area, some are out of the area but head coaches nonetheless. It would be unfair and disrespectful to name the current coaches, many of whom are still in the playoff hunt for a championship.

But there are a few names that have popped up as possible candidates for the job.

Matt Treanor (Mater Dei '94) is a name that has surfaced as a potential replacement. The former Monarch played in the Major Leagues for nine years for five teams. He played for Bob Ickes and was part of four league championship teams at Mater Dei. It is unclear if he has any experience coaching at the high school level, but the allure of "coming home" is tough for some to pass up.

Adam Kennedy, the former Anaheim Angel and Mater Dei assistant, is a name that continues to come up in conversation. The Riverside native and Cal State Northridge Hall of Famer has limited coaching experience on this level, but it is said by former players at Mater Dei that he has a way of connecting with kids and sharing his knowledge base in a manner that they get it.

There are also four current high school head coaches in the area whose names are being tossed around in conversations about the Mater Dei job. I have spoken with three of them in the last couple of hours. None would confirm nor deny their interest in the position, but all said in one form or fashion they'd listen if contacted.

There are certain to be more and more names surface as the coaching search kicks up in earnest after the postseason comes to an end on June 2nd.

One thing is certain, the Mater Dei Baseball program let go of a man of great character who is respected more so for who he was off the field than what he accomplished on it.

And when you look at the record Burt Call leaves behind at Mater Dei, that's saying something.

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