Roffina relinquishes reins of Flintridge Prep girls’ cross-country

Perhaps no area team in any sport has been as dominant or successful over the last few years than the Flintridge Prep girls’ cross-country program.

The Rebels have captured three CIF State and Southern Section Division V titles and two Prep League championships in the last three years. A program that was also in the mid-20s in terms of athletic participation not too long ago is now in the upper 40s.

The question that confronts the squad is will that success continue now that 19-year veteran coach Mike Roffina announced he stepped down Friday afternoon as co-coach?.

“I’ve been saying for a couple of years now, ‘Maybe it’s time, maybe it’s time’ and I think it was finally time,” said Roffina, 63, who will retain his positions as director of human development, history teacher and CPR instructor at Flintridge Prep. “Nineteen years is just a long time and I firmly believe that you want to leave on your own terms when the team is on top and I don’t think I can leave the program in any better shape and in any better hands.”

During Roffina’s tenure, the girls captured six league titles, four state championships and five CIF Southern Section Division V crowns.

Yet, it was simply more than titles for Roffina and Jill Riehl, who has been coaching alongside Roffina since 2008 and will retain the coaching duties in 2017.

“Next season will certainly be interesting,” Riehl said. “You know, Mike brought so much joy and levity to the program and the girls love him.

“I will also be appreciative of the nine years we’ve coached together and I want to thank him for the amount of responsibility he gave me when I first started out. That’s allowed me to flourish as a coach and I look forward to the challenge next year.”

Flintridge Prep’s most difficult race annually as of late has been the Prep League championships, when the Rebels and Division IV Mayfield Senior School face off.

While the Cubs thwarted the Rebels in 2015 for the league crown, the Rebels exacted some revenge this year via a 19-36 victory over Mayfield.

“Mike’s been there for a long time and we’ve had a lot of great battles throughout the years,” Mayfield Coach Eric Sun said. “You never wanted to lose to Flintridge Prep, that’s for sure, but I wish him the best going forward.”

Flintridge Prep’s victory in the Southern Section Division V Championships, 31-127, over Pacifica Christian on Nov. 19 was the second-largest win that day by any team and foreshadowed even more success at state.

At the CIF State Championships at Fresno’s Woodward Park, Flintridge Prep won by the largest margin in girls’ history at a state final, 51-170, over Francis Parker, while the school’s team time of 95:16 set a Division V record.

“The toughest part about the decision was telling the girls,” Roffina said. “They were pretty shocked about the whole thing and I will miss coaching them next year. At the same time, it’s best to leave at the top of your game.”

Roffina’s decision caught athletic director Garrett Ohara off guard.

“It certainly came as a surprise to me because we hadn’t discussed it and I don’t believe he spoke to any other coach about it,” Ohara said, “but if he felt it was time, well, then it was time and I respect that decision.”

Ohara has had plenty of success coaching the Flintridge Prep boys’ basketball program, but believes that the girls’ cross-country team’s exploits are on another level.

“They’ve done something unprecedented,” Ohara said. “Three state titles in a row at our school is unmatched.”

As for Roffina’s future regarding cross-country, he’s not interested in coaching, but will be very visible when the Rebels look to capture a fourth straight state title.

“I plan to be at several races next year, I’m not disappearing,” Roffina said. “I’m just stepping down from the program, not stepping away.”