Bill Backstrom to Replace Lester at El Modena

Bill Backstrom, an assistant football coach at El Modena High School for the past 11 years, has been named the Vanguards’ head coach, replacing Bob Lester, who resigned after the 1985 season.

Backstrom, a former defensive end at the University of California, was hired in 1975 as a history teacher and wrestling coach at El Modena, but he also became the school’s sophomore football coach.

He spent two weeks as the sophomore coach at Canyon High in 1976 before being transferred to El Modena, where he became a varsity assistant in charge of outside linebackers. For the past three seasons, Backstrom, 35, and Dale Arambel have coordinated the Vanguards’ defense.

Backstrom becomes the second football coach in the school’s 20-year history. Lester began the program in 1966 and compiled a 157-58-8 record, winning three Southern Conference championships.

In the process, Lester built one of Orange County’s most cohesive and respected coaching staffs, which included long-time assistants Backstrom, Arambel, Bob Radford, Glenn Lukenbill and Pete Parker.

Backstrom will retain Parker, a 12-year assistant, as offensive coordinator; Lukenbill, a 20-year assistant, as offensive line coach, and Allan Clinton, a 5-year assistant, as defensive backs and special teams coach.

Radford, who was with Lester at El Modena for all 20 years, and Arambel, an assistant for 18 years, are retiring. Backstrom said he will probably fill those positions with walk-on coaches.

“I don’t see things changing a great deal,” Backstrom said. “I’m not coming in with any new philosophy that’s going to shake the walls. All the coaches here have always had a lot of input--there has never been one guy making all the decisions--and I plan on doing the same thing. Pete and Glenn will handle the offense, and me, Allan and the other defensive coaches will handle the defense.”

Jack Elsner, El Modena principal, believed it was important to promote someone from Lester’s staff to the head job.

“Those guys have been together for a long time and they’re very compatible,” he said. “I wanted to keep the core of that group together to maintain the continuity of the program.”

Said Backstrom: “I’ve been very comfortable being an assistant--I’m more of a behind-the-scenes, get-the-job-done kind of guy--but I’d hate for someone to come in here from the outside and see everything we’ve worked so hard for go down the drain.”

Lester said that he couldn’t be more pleased with the hiring Backstrom.

“I couldn’t do any better than what Billy could do,” he said. “He’s very smart and he’s a hell of a teacher. He’s the kind of coach you’d like your son to play for because he takes care of the young fellas. He has them at the forefront.”