Weinberger Resigns at Laguna Hills

Laguna Hills High School’s football coach, Paul Weinberger, resigned Wednesday, according to principal Tony Ferruzzo.

“Paul is resigning for personal reasons,” Ferruzzo said. “He wants to spend a little more time with his family. One way or another, he will remain in our athletic program.”

Although Weinberger agreed that personal reasons did enter into his decision, he also said there were other factors involved.

In a prepared statement, Weinberger said he disagreed with the administration’s evaluation of his effectiveness as coach and said that parental influence on the football program made the coaching situation “unbearable.” He said he quit to “devote my energies to the more positive enhancements of my personal life.”

Ferruzzo declined to comment on Weinberger’s statement.

“I would like to respond, but I can’t,” Ferruzzo said. “Paul has a right as a staff member to share his feelings.”

In three seasons at Laguna Hills, Weinberger had a 2-28 record. However, the Hawks had to forfeit two victories and a tie last season for fielding an ineligible player.

Weinberger will remain at Laguna Hills as a social science teacher.

Weinberger is the second Laguna Hills coach to resign or be fired in the last week. Last Thursday, the boys’ basketball coach, Dave King, was fired, “in the best interest of the school and the program,” according to Frank Manzo, a Laguna Hills assistant principal.