Coaching Carousel Grinds to a Halt at Culver City High

It has been an off-season of change at Culver City High, where Jerry Chabola has hired eight new coaches since becoming athletic director July 1.

Gone is Lou Lichtl, who resigned as football and track coach in June after he was passed over for the athletic director’s job.

Former athletic director Martin Siegal was forced to resign as boys’ basketball coach and girls’ volleyball coach, a job he was scheduled to begin in the fall.

Chabola resigned as baseball coach and girls’ soccer coach when he accepted his new post.

Here is a list of the new coaches:

* Nestor Dordoni will coach water polo, boys’ soccer, and boys’ and girls’ swimming.

* Mike Howe, who works for the Culver City Parks and Recreation Department, will be girls’ tennis coach.

* Ric Miranda, a former assistant at St. Monica and Santa Monica College, will coach girls’ volleyball. He succeeds James Kainoa, who will remain as boys’ volleyball coach.

* Rob Moore, an assistant at Culver City, will replace Lichtl as football coach and track and field coach.

* Jeff Perry, a four-year assistant, will replace Siegal as basketball coach. Perry was a former standout at Hamilton, Santa Monica College and UC Santa Barbara.

* Rick Prieto, a three-year baseball assistant, will coach the baseball team. Prieto played at Culver City, Santa Monica College, University of San Diego and professionally in the Mexican League.

* Pat Prendergast will be girls’ soccer coach.

* John Sargent, a school security guard, will replace Jon Chapman as girls’ softball coach. He will also return as girls’ basketball coach.

Scott Kawahara will return as wrestling coach and Craig Lewis will return as boys’ and girls’ cross-country coach.

“It’s been hectic and exciting,” Chabola said. “It’s been a real challenge to make all these changes in a timely and efficient manner. I stepped into a situation where I had to replace people. I think we have an energetic staff who will work for the good of the students.”

*

Lichtl, 31, has been hired as assistant offensive line coach at Santa Monica College.

Under Lichtl, the Centaurs had a 26-23-1 record, were twice co-champions of the Ocean League and reached the playoffs four times.

Lichtl is expected to be reunited with receiver Tommy Covington, defensive end Dominic Quant and quarterback Richard Perez.

“I’m very grateful to Santa Monica College and (coach) Owen Hahn for accepting me into the program,” he said. “This is a little switch from what I’ve been doing for the last five years. I’ll be coaching essentially three players instead of a whole team.”

Lichtl was offered the coaching job at Leuzinger, but chose instead to work at Santa Monica.

“It’s a lucky break for us because you can’t find young coaches of that quality very often,” Hahn said.