Barnett Will Remain Coach at Trabuco Hills

Jim Barnett, football coach at Trabuco Hills High School, said Monday that he has turned down an offer to coach football at Big Sky High School in Missoula, Mont.

Barnett, who has been coach at Trabuco Hills since the school opened in 1985, was offered a contract by Big Sky last week after his hiring was approved by the district school board.

“I had an opportunity, but it would have meant giving up everything I had worked for here,” Barnett said. “Montana is where I grew up and I wanted to try coaching up there. But I have a lot of support from the parents at Trabuco Hills and it would be tough leaving the kids.”

Barnett has guided the Mustangs to consecutive Southern Section championships. The Mustangs beat Orange for the Division VII championship last fall and defeated Woodbridge for the Desert-Mountain Conference title in 1988.