DeFries Named Football Coach at Loara High

John deFries has been named football coach at Loara High School, Athletic Director Ray Moore announced Wednesday.

DeFries, an assistant coach at Rancho Santiago since 1984, succeeds Herb Hill, who resigned last season after winning an Orange County record 191 games in 31 years of coaching.

“This is the only high school job I would take,” deFries said. “I know the program, the kids and the community. I feel comfortable here.”

DeFries played for Hill as a senior in 1965 after his family moved to Anaheim from Hawaii. He was an assistant coach under Hill from 1971-83 and was the school’s athletic director from 1979-83.

DeFries was a linebacker at Fullerton College for two seasons and played on the Hornets’ national championship team in 1967. He played two seasons at Cal Western, now U.S. International, and was a National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics’ All-American in 1969.

After teaching and coaching at Loara, deFries accepted a position at Rancho Santiago. He coached the defensive line his first season and has been the offensive line coach the past five. DeFries, who has been a teacher at Anaheim High, will begin teaching in the Loara physical education department this semester.