A Dozen New Football Coaches Will Be on Sidelines This Week

The coaching-turnover trend continues in the Southeast/Long Beach area this fall as more than one-quarter of the area’s high schools have new football coaches.

Since The Times began tracking the trend five years ago, 56 job changes have occurred. Twelve new coaches will be on the sidelines this week. There are 38 Southern Section and three City Section CIF teams in the area.

The retirement of Ray Mooshagian at La Mirada High School makes Schurr’s Ken Davis the dean of area coaches. Mooshagian coached for 33 years. Davis begins his 17th season.

The six-team Moore League welcomes first-year coaches at Wilson, Compton and Lakewood.

Job openings often result from firings, resignations, promotions to better jobs within the educational system or the increased willingness of coaches to seek more prestigious coaching jobs at other schools. Some schools’ decision to use part-time coaches also has been frustrating to coaches who would prefer a full-time coaching position. Coaches also list burnout, long hours and sub-standard pay as reasons for leaving the profession.

COACHING CHANGES

High School New Coach Wilson John Brennan Artesia Scott Sandie/Norm Flowers La Mirada John Mele Gahr Steve Silberman Pioneer Baptist Darrin Fitzgerald Centennial Houston Haynes Bellflower Mike Harrington El Rancho Dick Shelko Compton Raymond Denham Lakewood Tim Miltenberger California Ken La Vigne Cantwell Mike Noonan