Spraker Leaves Saugus, Coaching for Lompoc Post

For the first time in its history, Saugus High will open a cross-country season in September without Coach Steve Spraker.

Spraker, 37, has accepted a position as administrative dean at Lompoc High, beginning Aug. 9.

“It’s a great career opportunity,” Spraker said. “It’s a good move for my family as well as myself. I’ll have a chance to move up there also. One of my goals has been to become an administrator before I was 40. And now I’ve got my chance.

“I’m going to miss coaching terribly, but it’s something that I’ve been doing for 15 years at the high school level. . . . I’ve accomplished everything I wanted to.”

Spraker said he does not plan to coach at Lompoc.

Spraker was an assistant at Canyon High for two years before taking over the Saugus cross-country programs when the school opened in 1975. During his 13-year tenure, the Centurions won consecutive Southern Section 3-A Division boys’ titles (1984 and ‘85) and consecutive 3-A girls’ titles (1978 and ‘79).

He also coached Southern Section individual champions Shelly Hazlett (1978 and ‘79) and Daren Stonerock (‘85).

Spraker’s coaching success was not limited to distance running. In track, he coached Rodney Bradshaw to the 1986 state title in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, and, in 1981, Audrey Williams won the state title in the girls’ 300 low hurdles.

Spraker graduated from Long Beach State in 1972 with a bachelor of arts degree in education and received his master’s in education administration from Azusa Pacific in 1980.