Toner Returns to Servite as Varsity Football Coach

Larry Toner, who coached the freshman football team for 15 years, was named Friday to replace interim varsity coach Jerry Person at Servite High School.

Toner, 48, was a popular and successful freshman football and assistant varsity basketball coach at Servite from 1970-84 before leaving to accept a position at Jesuit High School in Portland, Ore.

Toner was among 30 candidates who applied to run one of the most successful high school football programs in Southern California. Servite has qualified for the Southern Section playoffs 17 consecutive seasons.

“It’s nice to know you can come back home,” Toner said in a telephone interview. “I like the Servite community and have remained in touch with the school while I’ve been up here.”

This was Toner’s second attempt at the position. He was passed over when he applied in 1984 after Ron Smeltzer resigned to accept a job in the Canadian Football League. Leo Hand, an assistant at Long Beach City College, was named to replace Smeltzer. Hand resigned last Aug. 5 and was replaced by Person.

“I was disappointed that I didn’t get the job when Ron left, but I left on good terms,” Toner said. “I thought maybe it was time to move on and do something else.”

Toner coached linebackers and called the defensive signals at Jesuit. He also has coached freshman basketball and is a varsity assistant.

Toner said he will remain in Portland until his teaching contract expires in June, but will make trips to Southern California to assemble a staff and meet with players.

Father Patrick Donovan, Servite’s principal, said Toner’s qualities as a faculty member and a coach and “the endorsement from former football and basketball players” weighed heavily in his selection.

“We were looking for a candidate to add stability to our program,” Donovan said. “We were looking for someone who would make his home at Servite. Larry is a well-versed man who is a top-flight coach. He is a unique motivator.”

Once described as “a character who coaches character,” Toner spent spent countless hours in college working voluntarily at immigrant farm camps throughout Orange County. He speaks six languages and plays several musical instruments.

Ken Visser, Cal State Long Beach assistant and former Servite coach, once described Toner as “a dinosaur from another time. He’s from the (Vince) Lombardi school of football that believes in discipline and structure.”

Person, 25, was among the five finalists, according to Donovan. He led Servite to a 9-3 record and a co-championship in the Angelus League after being named to replace Hand as coach less than a month before the 1988 season began.

Hand resigned after four seasons based on his “desire to further his education and gain an advanced degree in the field of education.” Hand later admitted his resignation was forced out by administrators.