North Picks Uruburu as Football Coach

Tony Uruburu, a former high school and college assistant, has been named football coach at North Torrance High, Athletic Director Steve Schmitz said.

Uruburu, 30, replaces Joe Austin, who begins his second stint as coach at South Torrance in the fall after coaching North for three seasons.

A San Pedro native, Uruburu was an assistant at Fresno State last season and was a graduate assistant at USC in 1990 and ’91. Before that, he was an assistant for three seasons under John Featherstone at El Camino College.

Uruburu was a two-way tackle on two league championship teams at Mary Star, graduating in 1980. He played center for two seasons at Harbor College before a shoulder injury forced him to give up football while he was at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Uruburu was an assistant for three seasons at Mary Star and two seasons at Miraleste. He said Joe Radisich, his former coach at Mary Star, plans to help out at North. Uruburu said most of the current Saxon staff will remain as assistants.

Austin guided North to a 10-2 record and the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division IX playoffs last season.

“North has always had a reputation for having tough kids,” said Uruburu, whose first day on the job was Tuesday. “We’re going to continue that reputation. If nothing else, we’re going to give 100% every game, every play.

“I want our players to be examples on campus. I’m from the old school. I want people to look up to us, not just as football players but students, too. That’s the way I was taught, and that’s the way I’m going to do it.”

Schmitz said Uruburu will teach science, health and physical education at the school.