Mission Viejo Promotes Denny to Take Over Football Program

Bill Denny, hired Tuesday as Mission Viejo football coach, said he wants to put lessons learned from past Diablo coaches to good use in turning around the program.

“I sure hope to continue all the great traditions Mission Viejo has had over the years,” said Denny, who had been an assistant to Diablo coaches Marty Spalding and Mike Rush.

Recent history hasn’t been kind to Mission Viejo’s program, however. Rush resigned under pressure after refusing to enforce a ban on the Diablo logo. He died of a heart attack last year at age 43.

Spalding and top assistant Bob Johnson, who coached sons Bret and Rob to Southern Section championships in the 1980s at El Toro, resigned after Mission Viejo posted a 4-6 record last season.

Denny, whose sons Bill and Matt were standouts at Mission Viejo, spent the last five seasons as a Mission Viejo assistant. He also spent three seasons under Estancia Coach John Liebengood. The Eagles were 0-10 in their first season under Liebengood and Denny but improved to 8-2 two years later.