Redell Answers the Call by Joining Oaks Christian

Saying he felt a “calling’ to take the job, Bill Redell has resigned as football coach at St. Francis High to become coach at the new Oaks Christian High that opens next fall in Westlake Village.

Oaks Christian, a private coed school under construction adjacent to the 101 Freeway, was built with a $30-million stock gift from the Price Family Foundation and will have some of the best athletic facilities in the region, including a lighted football stadium, gymnasium, Olympic-size pool, and baseball and softball fields.

“I want to take the football program as far as we can take it,” Redell said.

The hiring of the 58-year-old Redell, the only coach to have guided a San Fernando Valley team to a Southern Section Division I football championship, is considered a coup for Oaks Christian.

Redell has strong ties to the Valley community. His three sons played football and graduated from Crespi, which won the Division I title in 1986 under Redell.

He coached five years at Crespi before leaving to watch his youngest son, Ronnie, play football at Stanford. He returned to coaching in 1993 to take over a struggling St. Francis program, which has developed into a Division III power.

St. Francis finished 11-2 this season, losing to Hart, 34-14, in a semifinal on Friday.

Redell informed St. Francis players Monday of his decision, which was difficult because the Golden Knights could be stronger next season with the return of quarterback John Sciarra, running back Matthew Milton and receiver Brett Mitchell.

But the chance to work close to his home in Westlake Village, the challenge of starting a program and the opportunity to give back to the Conejo Valley community lured Redell to Oaks Christian.

“God may have had the wrong number, but I feel like I was called to do this job,” Redell said. “I think I have been trained to do this job.”

Redell has always surrounded himself with quality assistants, many of whom have become head coaches.

Also recognized for strong organizational skills, Redell juggles coaching with serving as chief operating officer for a Pasadena-based insurance firm.

“It’s going to be a challenge and a lot of fun,” Redell said of his new coaching job. “I’m looking forward to making a positive impact in the community.”

Said Headmaster Jeff Woodcock of Oak Christian: “We’re very excited. We’re thrilled. He’s a good man.”

Hiring a big-name coach could help Oaks Christian compete for athletes with private schools such as Crespi, Chaminade, Notre Dame and St. Bonaventure.

“I think he has the know-how and will have the facilities and support to build an outstanding program,” said Coach Tim Lins of Moorpark, a former Redell assistant. “A school like that can draw from anywhere.”

Tuition at Oaks Christian is $11,000. The school will begin accepting applications in January and expects to have close to 200 ninth- and 10th-graders next fall.

Redell hopes to draw players from throughout the region, from Encino to Ventura, from Malibu to Simi Valley, from Woodland Hills to Newbury Park.

“I’ve heard people say [Oaks Christian] is going to be the Mater Dei of the San Fernando Valley,” Redell said. “That’s not the objective. The objective is to have a very fine athletic program, very fine academic program and very fine spiritual program.”

Principal Tom Moran of St. Francis is not expected to have trouble finding Redell’s successor.

Two top candidates are Mike Sanders, a Golden Knight assistant who formerly was head coach at Torrance Bishop Montgomery, and Jim Bonds, the Alemany coach who formerly was offensive coordinator at St. Francis under Redell.

Don’t think Oaks Christian is finished with hiring big-name coaches.

Dean Bradshaw, former Simi Valley basketball coach, and Mike Scyphers, former Simi Valley baseball coach, are among a number of coaches who have expressed interest in filling positions at the school.

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Record at a Glance

A review of the high school football coaching career of new Oaks Christian Coach Bill Redell:

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Year School Record 1982 Crespi 8-3 1985 Crespi 6-4 1986 Crespi 13-1 1987 Crespi 10-2-1 1988 Crespi 6-6 1993 St. Francis 3-7 1994 St. Francis 4-5-1 1995 St. Francis 7-4 1996 St. Francis 8-4 1997 St. Francis 7-4 1998 St. Francis 6-6 1999 St. Francis 11-2

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Totals 89-48-2