Santa Monica Expected to Name Football Coach on Monday

Danny Escalera will interview for the football coaching job at Santa Monica High today and an announcement regarding the position is expected Monday, according to Athletic Director Frank Nishimura.

Escalera is the front-runner for the position.

Nishimura said the school is looking for an on-campus teacher to replace Ron Guercio, who was fired March 29 after two seasons.

Escalera, 37, who coached the Viking sophomore team last season, is the only on-campus teacher to apply for the position, Nishimura said.

The Vikings were 0-10 in 1992, including a 72-6 loss to Hawthorne.

Escalera is excited about the possibility of taking over the program that had its glory days under Tebb Kusserow, who coached from 1972 to 1990.

“I want to go back to playing bigger schools in the preseason,” he said. “The ‘80s were wonderful to us and it is time to get the ball going in the ‘90s.”

Escalera was as assistant under Steve Grady at Loyola from 1979 to 1983 and a defensive coordinator for Brad Ratcliff at University during the 1987 and 1990 seasons.

Said Grady: “He has a tremendous work ethic. He is not afraid to put in the time. He will do everything in his power to make the program successful.”