Saddleback Picks Cunerty to Coach Football Team

Bill Cunerty, an assistant at Saddleback College for 14 years, has been selected as the college’s football coach, it was announced Wednesday.

Cunerty, 48, started at Saddleback in 1980 coaching the quarterbacks and later became the offensive coordinator. He takes over for Ken Swearingen, who retired after this season as the winningest football coach in community college history.

Cunerty has been on staff for both of Saddleback’s national championship seasons (1985 and 1992). While on sabbatical last fall, he visited 12 college and four professional teams.

“It really recharged my batteries,” Cunerty said. “I can’t wait to get started. In fact, I visited seven high schools already.”

Cunerty played football and baseball at USC, then went on to Cal State Dominguez Hills, where he earned master’s degrees in physical education and English.

He was the head coach at North Torrance High from 1969-1973, Dana Hills (1974-76) and Capistrano Valley (1977-79) before moving to Saddleback.

He also is the golf coach at Saddleback, and his teams have won 12 conference titles and four State titles, including last season’s championship.