Redell Bows Out as Candidate for Westlake High Football Job

Bill Redell has withdrawn as a candidate for the Westlake High football job, citing the same reason he gave for leaving Crespi High last month: money.

Redell, 47, works as an insurance salesman and said that he no longer can afford to take time away from his business. Redell insisted that he was never an official candidate for the job but conceded that he discussed the position with Westlake Athletic Director Bob Fisher.

“Regardless of what anyone says, I wasn’t an official candidate,” Redell said. “We did have preliminary discussions and I considered the job, but after I investigated the opportunity, I decided it wasn’t for me.”

Redell was tempted to take the position because he lives in Westlake and has strong ties with the community, particularly with the school’s stadium committee. Westlake has played at Thousand Oaks High since the inception of its program 11 seasons ago, and school supporters have initiated a fund-raising drive to construct a field at Westlake.

“I have friends who are active in the stadium committee and that’s why I considered the job,” Redell said. “I also hate to get out of coaching but I just can’t afford it anymore.”

In five seasons at Crespi, Redell posted a 43-16-1 record and led the Celts to the Big Five Conference title in 1986, the school’s only Southern Section football title.

The Westlake job became vacant when George Contreras resigned in December after compiling a 58-57 record in 11 seasons.