Assistants at La Quinta, Savanna Promoted to Fill Coaching Spots

A week after Joe Zeno, La Quinta High School football coach, resigned, the school has named Roger Takahashi, Zeno’s offensive coordinator last season, as the Aztecs’ new coach.

Takahashi, 33, a 1974 graduate of Cal State Long Beach, spent 12 years as an assistant at Santiago High before coming to La Quinta in 1984. He was La Quinta’s junior varsity coach in 1984 and led the Aztecs to an 8-2 record and the Garden Grove League championship before being named a varsity assistant in 1985.

“Our first decision was to look within our own staff, and if we had someone we felt could continue the program at the level of achievement we’ve had here, we’d fill the position from within,” said Jim Perry, La Quinta athletic director. “We’re very satisfied with Roger taking over the program, and we think our success will continue.”

The Aztecs won four league championships in Zeno’s seven years as coach.

Savanna High School’s new head football coach will be familiar to Rebel players and the student body. Dana Coleman, 36, a varsity football assistant the past two seasons, has been named to succeed Ron Milner, who stepped down after the past season.

Coleman is a science teacher at Savanna and also serves as the school’s wrestling coach. Before joining the Rebels, he worked for two seasons as an assistant to former Kennedy High School Coach John Hangartner and for two seasons as an assistant at Ventura College.

“He’s very popular with the kids and the community,” said Earl Smick, Savanna athletic director. The Rebels had a 1-9 record in 1985, a slight improvement over 1984’s 0-10 mark.