
In 2012, I started writing resumes for coaches. This whole “side gig” came up because when I was writing a coaching resume for the first time ever in 2011, I found that there is NOBODY to help coaches with their resumes. And coaching resumes are VERY different from your typical resume!
As a result of this consulting, and my presence on social media, a LOT of coaches started asking me “Where are the jobs in So Cal?” Well, I got tired of sending the same emails or DMs to everyone on how to find the So Cal Head Football Coach job openings because they’re basically listed in 4 different spots, so I started tracking them myself, and having them right here on my website.
Also, I found out that NOBODY was tracking every Head Football Coach change in So Cal. It is a HUGE area, more than 600 football playing schools. Some media kept a decent database in their small areas, and I don’t blame anyone for covering the whole southern part of the state. But, there is no doubt that my database has played a pivotal role since 2015 in helping coaches to find the job of their dreams. I’ve had 100s of people tell me over the years that they check my database daily during the “change season” which usually runs from about the middle of November until April. I track the jobs per fiscal year, from July 1 to June 30.
Here are some facts from the 2023-24 Head Football Coach Carousel.
We had 99 changes this year. How does this compare to years past? Well, see the data below. It’s important to note that the number of schools playing football really hasn’t fluctuated that much over the last 10 years. We are right around 600 schools that played football in each of these years, fluctuating from 590-605. Those numbers are significant enough to change the data below.
Which CIF section had the most changes this year? The California Interscholastic Federation has 10 “sections.” There are 3 of these sections in Southern California: Southern Section, San Diego Section and the Los Angeles Section. San Diego and LA have just under 100 football playing schools, which means the Southern Section makes up the rest. Thus, they are always going to have the most changes. But here is what it looked like this year.
Here is what 2022-23 looked like. Isn’t it fascinating how closely they resemble each other?
One of the questions that I get all of the time is “How do I get a Head Football Coach job?” I write about this extensively in my book The Head Coach Blueprint. If you want a road map to becoming a Head Coach, go get that book now. I guarantee you that it will be the single best investment that you ever make in your career as a coach IF you want to become a Head Coach.
Let’s take a look at what position these coaches were coaching in 2023, before becoming a Head Coach. Can you find any trends in how to help set you up to be a Head Football Coach?
Obviously, the number one position folks held before taking a Head Football Coach job in So Cal was being a Head Football Coach. That’s a no brainer.
Let’s look at the rest of the coaches.
22.8% were an Offensive Coordinator, with a very high 13.9% of all new Head Football Coaches in So Cal coming right from that school where they were. That’s the highest percentage.
15.2% were Defensive Coordinators, with 10.1% of those coming right from the same school they were at.
Therefore, the best way to become a Head Football Coach is moving from Offensive Coordinator. We see this same trend at the College and NFL levels. For whatever reason, more OCs get that nod to be Head Coaches than DCs.
Here are the changes, alphabetical by school. If you can fill in any of the “unknowns” please email me at Chris@EightLaces.org.
SCHOOL | CIF SECTION | HEAD COACH | REASON THEY LEFT | NEW HEAD COACH | WHERE NEW HC CAME FROM |
Acad. of Careers & Exploration | SS | Mike Dickinson | Unknown | UNKNOWN | UNKNOWN |
Adelanto | SS | Rafael Perry | Unknown | Nate Stokes | Oak Hills Head Frosh Coach |
Alhambra | SS | Eric Bergstrom | Resigned | Mike Mackintosh | Alhambra OC |
Anaheim | SS | Larry Booher | Resigned | Gus Martinez | HC at Nogales |
Antelope Valley | SS | Jermaine Lewis | Resigned | James Vondra | Did not coach in 2023 |
Apple Valley | SS | Kyle Godfrey | Resigned | Robert Meras | Apple Valley OC |
Arcadia | SS | Antyone Sims | Resigned | Eric Elias | Cantwell OC |
Arroyo | SS | John Argo | Resigned | Pete Moy | South East HS OC |
Azusa | SS | Mark Brownstead | Resigned | Alfred Zamora | Arroyo Asst. |
Bell Gardens | SS | Hector Nova | Resigned | Rudy Ramirez | BG Asst Head Coach |
Bellflower | SS | Jason Miller | Another HC job | Vince Lobendahn | Cerritos College Asst. |
Beverly Hills | SS | Tim Ellis | Was Interim for ’22 | Hasan Mohamad | UNKNOWN |
Big Bear | SS | Jon Fleming | Unknown | Dave Griffiths | Did not coach in 2023 |
Bonita Vista | SD | Tyler Arciaga | Resigned | Jay Hernandez | Bonita Vista DC |
Brawley | SD | Vandiver/Rubio | Were interims | Lawrence Landy | Brawley Asst Coach. |
Brea Olinda | SS | Jae Kim | Unknown | Justin Villasenor | Brea Olinda OC |
Burbank | SS | Adam Coleman | Resigned | Hector Valencia | UNKNOWN |
Burroughs/Burbank | SS | Jesse Craven | Another HFC Job | Laron Johnson | La Puente HFC |
CA Military Institute | SS | Steve Hoak | Unknown | James Daniels | DC at CMI |
Calfornia | SS | Louie Zamora | Resigned | Patrick Winchell | UNKNOWN |
Capistrano Valley Christian | SS | Eric Preszler | Resigned | Brandon Camarillo | St. Margarets OC |
Carpinteria | SS | Mario Robinson | Resigned | Van Latham/Henry Gonzales | UNKNOWN |
Castle Park | SD | Paco Silva | Resigned | Airrien Smith | Castle Park OC |
Cathedral | SS | Anthony Jefferson | Resigned | Vince Jefferson | UNKNOWN |
Centennial/Compton | SS | Glenn Gates | Unknown | Dwayne Smith | UNKNOWN |
Channel Islands | SS | Rashad Dunn | Resigned | Jeremiah Valoaga | UNKNOWN |
Citrus Hill | SS | Jordan Tanioka | Resigned | Ron Gueringer | Asst Coach/Different School |
Claremont | SS | Shane Hile | Resigned | Jacob Caron | Out of State – HC in Florida |
Cleaveland | LA | Peter Gunny | Resigned | Mario Guzman | Asst OC; Offensive Line |
Covina | SS | Kevin Glaspy | Dismissed | Joe Brown | Covina OC |
Diamond Ranch | SS | Eric Martinez | Another HC job | Chris Williams | Harvard Westlake OC |
El Cajon Valley | SD | Nick Osborn | Resigned | James Simon | Otay Ranch Head Frosh Coach |
El Segundo | SS | Shawn Green | Resigned | Rory Schoonmaker | Santa Ana Head Coach |
El Toro | SS | Randall Reynoso | Resigned | Peter Lofthouse | HC at Newport Harbor |
Gabrielino | SS | Dwayne Wright | Resigned | Luis Gutierrez | UNKNOWN |
Ganesha | SS | Don Cayer | Different Direction | Andres Hernandez | Ganesha OL Coach |
Garden Grove | SS | Ricardo Cepeda | Resigned to be AD | Matthew LemMom | Tamalpais Head Coach |
Grand Terrace | SS | Gilbert Villareal | Unknown | Ryan Taylor | QB Coach/Palomar College |
Great Oak | SS | Scott Strosnider | Resigned | Herschel Ramirez | UNKNOWN |
Hamilton | LA | Norris Milton Jr | Another HC job | Rodney Bryant | UNKNOWN |
Hart | SS | Rick Herrington | Retired | Jake Goosen-Brown | Hueneme HFC |
Hueneme HFC | SS | Jake Goosen-Brown | Hart HFC Job | Alex Morfin | Rio Mesa Asst HC/OC |
Indio | SS | Daniel Hayes | Dismissed | Lamonte Thompson | Did not coach in 2023 |
Jurupa Hills | SS | Citos Marinez | Resigned | Tommy Leach | UNKNOWN |
Kaiser | SS | William Cardosi | Resigned | Reggie Cornish | Summit Safeties/RB Coach |
Katella | SS | Jeff Reitz | Resigned | Dustin Hurley | Katella Head Frosh Coach |
La Puente | SS | Laron Johnson | Resigned | Erick Morales | La Puente Co OC |
La Salle (Pasadena) | SS | Ben Buys | Chaffey JUCO HC | Mark Serve | Former Westlake HC |
Lancaster | SS | Brandon Rivers | Resigned | Jermaine Lewis | Antelope Valley HFC |
Lawndale | SS | Travis Clark | Resigned | Norris Milton Jr | Hamilton HC |
Leuzinger | SS | Alvin Steen | Different Direction | Jason Miller | Bellflower Head Football Coach |
Liberty | SS | Kraig Broach | Resigned | Adam Contreras | On staff |
Locke | LA | John Rockmore | Resigned | UNKNOWN | UNKNOWN |
Mary Star of the Sea | SS | Eugene Childs | Unknown | Tyler Sestich | Lawndale OC |
Mater Dei | SD | John Joyner | Resigned | Rashard Cook | Mater Dei Defensive Coor |
Mater Dei | SS | Frank McManus | Dismissed | Raul Lara | St. Anthony HFC |
Mt Empire | SD | Bernard Vann | Different Direction | Ben Gooding | Callisburg, TX |
Newport Harbor | SS | Peter Lofthouse | Another HFC Job | Matt Burns | NH Defensive Coordinator |
Nogales | SS | Gus Martinez | Resigned | Matt Villasenor | Nogales OC |
O’ferrel Charter | SD | Jake Passot | Different Direction | Bruce Newland | El Capitan Var LB Coach |
Ontario | SS | John Kusleika | Deceased | Jeremiah Budnovich | San Jacinto OC |
Orange Glen | SD | Tido Smith | Different Direction | Santiago Rocha | OG Offensive Coordinator |
Pasadena | SS | Dilan Clark | Resigned | Ron Jones | Burroughs Asst HC/DC |
Point Loma | SD | Allen | Resigned | Ryan Price | La Jolla DC/Asst HC |
Poway | SD | Kyle Williams | Resigned | Brandon Harris | Scripps Ranch WR Coach |
Rancho Buena Vista | SD | Shane Graham | Unknown | Terrence Mckinne | UNKNOWN |
Rancho Dominguez Prep | LA | Napolean Banks | Resigned | Anthony Belt | Asst at RDP |
Riverside Notre Dame | SS | Rick Pontious | Resigned | Charles Richardson | Did not coach in 2023 |
Roosevelt (Eastvale) | SS | Chuck Chastain | Resigned | Aaron Crane | Roosevelt OC |
Rowland | SS | Ryan Jacobson | Different Direction | Citos Marinez | Former HC at Jurupa Hills |
Saddleback | SS | Michael Nobles | Resigned | Rob Thompson | Did not coach in 2023 |
San Marino | SS | Nate Turner | SBVC Head Coach | Richard Nila | UNKNOWN |
San Ysidro | SD | Keith Aguon | Resigned | Giantoni Canale | San Ysidro Asst |
Santa Ana | SS | Rory Schoonmaker | Another HC job | Luiz Cruz | Santa Ana Asst. |
Santiago | SS | Bert Espotio | Resigned | Scott Morrison | Did not coach in 2023 |
Savanna | SS | Carl Agnew | Resigned | Fred Emmerson | Taft HFC (resigned 1/9/24) |
Sierra Vista | SS | Jesse Ceniceros | Resigned | Travis Brown | Did not coach in 2023 |
SLO Classical Academy | SS | Rory Gerber | Unknown | Chuck Masterson | UNKNOWN |
St Augustine | SD | Ron Gladnick | Unknown | Ron Caragher | Did not coach in 2023 |
St. Anthony | SS | Raul Lara | Another HC job | Jeff Magdaleno | UNKNOWN |
Sultana | SS | Terry Cleveland | Juco Asst | Obie Galindo | Sultana Head Frosh Coach |
Sunny Hills | SS | David Wilde | Resigned | Fred Grambrell | San Clemente DC |
Sweetwater | SD | Ervin Hernandez | Resigned | Brandon Burris | Sweetwater Off. Coor |
Taft | LA | Fred Emmerson | Resigned | Thomas Randolph | Taft Defensive Coordinator |
Temescal Canyon | SS | Cody Roelof | Out of state job | Derek Hill | Special Teams Coor/ WR Coach |
Tesoro | SS | Matt Poston | Resigned | Mike Zangl | Tesoro Head JV Coach |
Torres | LA | Corey Zahn | Unknown | UNKNOWN | UNKNOWN |
Valley Center | SD | Sidaron Wilson | Dismissed | Billy Dunckel | Was VC Interim |
Valley View | SS | Pete Smolin | Resigned | Eric Martinez | Diamond Ranch HC |
Vasquez | SS | Darryl Williams | Different Direction | David Perez | Nogales DC |
Viewpoint | SS | Patrick Skahan | Unknown | Ken Papotta | Viewpoint DC |
Vista Meridian Global Academy | SS | Richard Jimenez | Resigned | UNKNOWN | UNKNOWN |
Warren | SS | Kevin Pearson | Resigned | Adam Leonard (Interim) | Did not coach in 2023 |
Westlake | SS | Mark Serve | Different Direction | Jesse Craven | Burroughs Head Football Coach |
Westlake | SS | Jesse Craven | Resigned | Carnell Henderson | Did not coach in 2023 |
Westminster | SS | Steven Anderson | Resigned | Alex De Giacomo | Westminster DC |
Whittier | SS | Todd Quincy | Dismissed | Jimmy Welker | UNKNOWN |
Wilson (Hacienda Heights) | SS | Daniel Morales | Resigned | Charles Lewis | Wilson DC |
Wilson (Long Beach) | SS | Scott Meyer | Dismissed | Travis Clark | Lawndale HFC |
Here are the schools with the most changes since I started tracking these changes.
Taft | 8 |
Adelanto | 7 |
Burroughs (Burbank) | 5 |
Fallbrook | 5 |
Lancaster | 5 |
Northwood | 5 |
Saddleback | 5 |
Victor Valley | 5 |
Workman | 5 |
Azusa | 4 |
Banning | 4 |
Bell Gardens | 4 |
Belmont | 4 |
Bonita Vista | 4 |
California Military Inst. | 4 |
Citrus Hill | 4 |
Covina | 4 |
Eastlake | 4 |
El Monte | 4 |
Fountain Valley | 4 |
Francis Parker | 4 |
Godinez | 4 |
Great Oak | 4 |
Hamilton (L.A.) | 4 |
Indian Springs | 4 |
Jordan (Long Beach) | 4 |
Katella | 4 |
Knight | 4 |
Locke Charter (LA) | 4 |
Lucerne Valley | 4 |
Riverside Prep | 4 |
Royal | 4 |
San Marino | 4 |
Sierra Vista | 4 |
Sweetwater | 4 |
Westlake | 4 |
Wilson (Hacienda Heights) | 4 |