Fillmore Hires Wilber; Santa Clara Names Weber and Dolby

Fillmore and Santa Clara high schools hired football coaches Friday. Fillmore named John Wilber to replace Curtis Garner, and Santa Clara chose Dick Weber and Dan Dolby Jr. as co-coaches to replace Tom O’Brien.

All three appointees attended the schools at which they now coach.

Wilber, a 1979 Fillmore graduate, had been the Flashes’ basketball coach. He accepted the football job following the conclusion of Fillmore’s 10-14 basketball season that ended last week with a loss in the second round of the Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs.

Garner resigned after leading the Flashes to a 34-30 record in six seasons. Fillmore was 2-8 in 1993, 0-4 in Tri-Valley League play.

Wilber, who had a 33-7 record as the school’s junior varsity football coach the past five seasons, has stepped down as basketball coach. Garner will remain at the school as a teacher.

“I’m honored to be selected,” Wilber said. “This high school and this community have always been very important to me and my family. My success in coaching at the junior varsity level was due to the great athletes I had . . . and the especially outstanding coaches who worked with me.”

Fillmore vice-principal Joseph Pawlick said the school received resumes from 20 coaches.

“We had some very qualified and highly interested applicants,” he said. “But we waited until after basketball to see if John wanted to make the switch. This is the guy we wanted.

“He’s a great communicator and organizer. He works well with our kids. He has a knack for surrounding himself with great people.”

The hirings of Weber and Dolby was confirmed by Sister Adrienne Clare, vice principal. Weber is a teacher at Santa Clara. Dolby will be a walk-on coach.

O’Brien had a 7-23 record in three seasons before resigning in January. The Saints were 2-8, 1-3 in the Frontier League last fall.