Murphy Pulls Out of Running for Job as Coach at Westlake

Dan Murphy, the likely successor to George Contreras as Westlake High’s football coach, has withdrawn his name as a candidate for the vacant position.

“He was certainly a prime candidate and a good man,” Athletic Director Bob Fisher said. “We’re disappointed.”

Murphy, 39, had assisted Contreras since the school opened 11 years ago. Contreras resigned last month after a 2-8 season and said he hoped that Murphy would succeed him. But after a lengthy meeting last week in which school officials made it clear that the school could not provide a staff of on-campus coaches, Murphy withdrew as a candidate.

“In order for us to compete we need to have a solid staff of on-campus coaches and that isn’t going to happen,” he said.

Only Murphy, varsity assistant Gary McGinnis and freshman Coach Larry Stonebraker are on-campus coaches in the program.

“We’ve been dealing with declining enrollment at Westlake for the past five or six years,” Murphy said. “With no students, we’ve got to cut back teachers. The administration’s hands are tied.”

Murphy said that he may coach at Westlake next season, but he also is pursuing jobs at other schools. Among his regrets in withdrawing as a candidate is missing the chance to coach against his brother, Dave, Simi Valley’s coach.