Lance Neal, a former football player at...

Lance Neal, a former football player at Irvine High School, has been named track and field coach at the school.

Neal, 25, replaces interim coach Randy Rossi, who will coach the team’s distance runners.

Neal has served as a football assistant at Irvine the past two seasons and has an extensive football background. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara, where he was a linebacker, and also competed at Orange Coast College and San Jose State.

Neal has no prior experience coaching track and field, but Irvine Athletic Director Rick Curtis said he has the skills needed for the job.

“He has a lot of organizational skills and management skills that he has developed in football, which you need for track,” Curtis said.

Neal will begin substitute teaching at Irvine Feb. 3.