O’Neil Is Named St. Francis Coach

Tim O’Neil, an assistant at Chaminade High this past season, has been named baseball coach at St. Francis High.

O’Neil, 28, replaces John Yakel, who was fired as baseball coach and athletic director after last season.

“My first goal is to get the team to compete as hard as we can every day of the season,” O’Neil said. “It’s way too early to be setting goals based on wins and losses.”

O’Neil was an assistant at Gonzaga University in 1988 and at Crespi High in 1989. He graduated from Crespi in 1983 and from Gonzaga in 1987, playing baseball at both schools. He will be a walk-on coach.

Father Lawrence Caruso, the St. Francis principal, also announced Thursday that Chris Noonan has been hired as the athletic director. Noonan, who will also coach the cross-country and track teams, has been working in the banking and financial industries since graduating from St. Louis University in 1989.