Washington Makes Coaching Changes

Elgene Rowe has been named interim football coach at Washington High, replacing Richard Mull, who was relieved of his position earlier this week.

Mull’s entire staff was also dismissed.

Marguerite LaMotte, Washington’s principal, said in a statement that Mull was replaced because “some internal problems existed which have been addressed.” She would not answer questions about specifics.

Mull, 48, was in his fourth season as coach of the Generals, who are 0-4 this season.

He said he was told he was being let go because of a series of incidents that reflected poorly on the program, especially a motivational chant that players created and adopted. The chant was repeated by some of the students in the home crowd during last week’s game against Dorsey.

Mull acknowledged that the chant had a vulgar undertone.

“I really don’t think it was appropriate,” Mull said of the chant, “but at the time I didn’t pay that much attention to it.

“It was well within [the school’s] rights to do what they did. But I don’t think I would have been fired at another school, at least not without a warning.”

Washington plays Crenshaw Friday.

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Football’s regular season is at its midpoint and each of the City’s six conferences look as if they will have championship races.

Venice and surprising Hamilton are 2-0 in the Coastal Conference.

Perennial power Franklin, Belmont and upstart Verdugo Hills are all 2-0 in the Northern Conference.

Locke and South Gate are both 3-0 and Jefferson is 2-1 in the Southeastern Conference.

In the Southern Pacific Conference, Banning and Crenshaw are 2-0 with two-time defending City champion San Pedro, Harbor City Narbonne, Dorsey and Carson are 1-1.

Granada Hills, Granada Hills Kennedy and Woodland Hills Taft are 2-0 in the Northwest Valley Conference and Van Nuys and Sylmar are tied for first at 2-0 in the Valley Pac-8 Conference.