Engbrecht Replaces Mochizuki at Van Nuys

George Engbrecht, the newly selected Van Nuys High football coach, openly admits that along with the excitement of the new job comes another emotion: fear.

Engbrecht, 42, a dean at Van Nuys, replaces Kenji Mochizuki. Engbrecht has only one season of varsity football experience in a 16-year coaching career spent mostly at the B level.

“There’s excitement but there’s also apprehension, the fear of the unknown,” he said Tuesday. “I was successful at one level. Can I be successful at another level?. It will be very difficult coaching against experienced coaches.”

Engbrecht is a 1971 Cal State Northridge graduate whose son Chad played quarterback at Canyon High this fall.

Mochizuki said he was fired Dec. 19 by Robert Scharf, the Van Nuys principal. Scharf will not confirm or deny the action. Mochizuki compiled an 18-28-1 record in five seasons. He guided the Wolves to two Mid-Valley League championships. Van Nuys was 5-5 in 1991.