Jon Mack named Encino Crespi football coach

When Jon Mack was an assistant football coach at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in the 1980s, he used to try to inspire his players for their rivalry game against Encino Crespi by describing the Celts’ school colors in not very complimentary terms.

So understand the culture shock he embraced on Saturday when he was introduced as Crespi’s new football coach. He’s a 1978 Notre Dame graduate deciding to take over the program of the neighborhood rival. His 10-year-old son, Justin, was given a brown Crespi sweatshirt.

Celts fans have reason to rejoice because Mack has proved himself to be one of the best high school coaches in Southern California. For 17 years, he was the head coach at Ventura St. Bonaventure, where he transformed the Seraphs from a little-known small-schools program into a Southern Section powerhouse, winning seven section titles and compiling a record of 163-47-1, including a 43-game winning streak.

He decided to resign at St. Bonaventure after the 2006 season for the chance to coach college players. In three years at Ventura College, he took his team to two bowl games.

But he clearly missed being in the spotlight, and the opportunity to return to his San Fernando Valley roots helped pave the way for his decision to accept the Crespi job.

The Celts have their own rich football tradition, being the only Valley school to have won a Division I championship, in 1986 when Bill Redell was the coach. They returned to the Pac-5 Division championship game in 2007 but failed to make the playoffs the last two seasons, and Jeremiah Ross resigned as coach.

Mack is known for his fiery demeanor, as is his wife, Kathy, a teacher at St. Bonaventure who patrolled the sidelines cheering loudly for Seraphs players. She’ll now do the same for the Celts.

Mack does have some explaining to do to his many ex-Notre Dame players and friends. Jeff Kraemer, the longtime Notre Dame line coach who graduated with Mack and had him as his best man at his wedding, said his friend’s decision to join the Celts “is like Tommy Lasorda going to manage the Cincinnati Reds.”

Crespi Athletic Director Matt Luderer knows what Mack may be in for. While Luderer and two of his brothers graduated from Crespi, another brother, Mike, went to Notre Dame.

“We haven’t talked to my brother since he left for Notre Dame,” Luderer said jokingly.

But Celts players, parents and alumni warmly welcomed Mack during the announcement in the school’s new multipurpose building. Ex-Crespi players Kevin Prince and Joseph Fauria from UCLA were in the audience.

Mack intends to commute from his home in Ventura, but he’s prepared to get to work immediately.

“I will be here Monday morning, and I will challenge you to beat me,” he told the audience.

While Crespi made a strong bid to land Anaheim Servite Coach Troy Thomas, a former Celts coach, Mack appears to fit the requirements of someone who can make an impact at the all-boys school.

“Obviously, the challenge is the competition,” Mack said. “The league is incredible and the division is incredibly competitive. Those are huge opportunities and huge challenges that we need to rise up.”

As for expectations, Mack said, “No one can put more pressure on themselves than I put on myself. No one will have higher expectations than me.”

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

twitter.com/LATSondheimer