Coppage Will Coach Girls at Esperanza

John Coppage, who coached the Esperanza High School boys’ soccer team to a 1986 Southern Section 3-A championship and the 1987 title game, has resigned that position to coach the girls’ soccer team.

Coppage, whose son, Sean, was a senior on the Aztecs this year, has a daughter, Christine, who plays soccer and will be a sophomore at Esperanza next year.

“I’d never even thought about (coaching) the girls until a few months ago,” said Coppage. “They have talent and they have a chance to be as good as any team in the county. It’s kind of a different slant to go from the boys to the girls, but I’m looking forward to it.”

The Aztecs were 109-6-10 in Coppage’s four years as coach, winning the Empire League each year.

The girls’ team was 11-6-4 last season under coach Pat Willis, who resigned after the season.