Monroe Decree: Cuccia Is Out as Football Coach

Nine months after suffering a debilitating stroke, Fred Cuccia--who is credited with turning around four high school football programs--said he is ready to return to coaching football at Monroe High.

But Monroe Principal Joan Elam disagrees.

Elam told Cuccia on April 14 that because of health concerns, he will not be allowed to reclaim his coaching job this season. The two haven’t spoken since.

“I feel I can coach . . . [but] I feel that it’s her decision to make,” Cuccia said. “She’s the principal of the school and you have to go with what she says.”

Elam said she agonized over the decision after months of thought and dialogue with a district doctor and Cuccia about the extent of his rehabilitation.

“He is certainly on a good [road] to recovery but I don’t think he’s 100% yet,” Elam said. “I’m very concerned about the health and safety of Fred and of the students.”

Elam, who worked with Cuccia’s wife, Carol, for six years at Sepulveda Jr. High and has long been a friend of the Cuccia family, said it was one of the most difficult decisions she ever had to make.

“It just breaks my heart,” said Elam, choking back emotion. “It’s been a long process. I was there the day he had the stroke. I don’t need to tell you what a stressful job a varsity [football] coach has.”

Cuccia, 52, who took a medical leave of absence from Monroe after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in July, returned to his teaching position in a limited role in January, teaching two English classes and a weight training class.

It was anticipated that Cuccia, who has turned around football programs at Hoover, South Pasadena and Poly before taking over and doing the same at Monroe in 1994, would soon reclaim his coaching position.

Two months ago Cuccia brought in Dennis Hughes, who was an assistant to Cuccia at Hoover. Hughes resigned after last season after 11 years at Hoover.

Having been off-track academically at the year-round school for the past two months, Cuccia hoped to jump back into coaching during spring practice. He was anxious to continue coaching his son, Rocco, a two-year starting center who was looking forward to his father’s return for his senior season.

“[The players were] shocked when they heard the news because they thought he was capable of doing it,” Rocco Cuccia said. “He made it a goal to come back and she took that away from him.”

Cuccia, who has lost about 30 pounds since the stroke but has since regained a lot of his strength, was most unhappy that Elam made her decision without regard to Cuccia’s opinion.

“It’s a very hard thing for me . . . to call me in to the office and [have her] say, ‘I’m gonna let you go,’ without even discussing it with me,” he said.

Cuccia, who said he is about 90% recovered, said he has received three or four offers to coach elsewhere since he was let go. Still, he hasn’t decided his next move--and he hasn’t ruled out retirement.

“I may never coach again, then again I might coach [soon],” said Cuccia, who led Poly to a City 3-A title in 1990. “I haven’t thought it all over [yet].”

Although the paperwork has not been finalized regarding Cuccia, Elam said she will probably open up the coaching position to applicants in the next few weeks.