Lippitt Handed No. Hollywood Football Job

James Lippitt, a relatively unknown coach in high school football circles, hopes to make a name for himself after being hired as the varsity coach at North Hollywood High last week.

Lippitt, a varsity assistant for the Huskies last season, replaces Fred Grimes, who resigned in November in hopes of finding a coaching job closer to his Simi Valley home.

North Hollywood (5-4 last season) had a 22-23-1 record in five seasons under Grimes, who will coach the North Hollywood varsity baseball team this season.

“I’ve always wanted to be a head coach so this is a big step for me,” said the 29-year old Lippitt. “I spent some time around some real good football players in college, so I feel like I’m ready for this step.”

An assistant coach of the Belmont B team in 1988 and a varsity assistant at Jefferson in ‘89, Lippitt was a walk-on safety at East Carolina in 1981 and ’82.

Washington Redskins running back Earnest Byner and Pittsburgh Steeler guard Terry Long were among his teammates.

“I spent a couple of years serving as their tackling dummy,” Lippitt quipped. “So I think I have an idea what it takes to have a good team. . . . We played some top 20 teams when I was there, and I really learned a lot.”

Lippitt, who teaches English as a Second Language at North Hollywood, played football and basketball at Walt Whitman High in Bethesda, Md., graduating in 1980.

He earned a bachelor of arts in communication from Salisbury (Md.) State College in 1985.

“(James) doesn’t really have much practical experience on the field,” North Hollywood Athletic Director Jim Szabo said, “but he’s very, very enthusiastic about athletics. He’s young, new and he has a high-energy level.

“He’s very interested in athletics. I think he’ll be good for this program.”