David Machuca named Bell-Jeff athletic director

David Machuca realizes that he will be keeping extremely busy once fall rolls around.

Machuca, a 2002 Burbank High graduate, was tabbed to head the Bellarmine-Jefferson High football program in December. In addition, Machuca, 27, will also teach a number of biology classes at the school.

However, his workload just increased as he has been named Bell-Jeff’s new athletic director.

Machuca takes over for Jaclyn Johnson, who was the Guards’ athletic director for two years while also heading the successful girls’ basketball program.

Although he has only been at the school for a short time, Machuca said he is honored that the Bell-Jeff administration has enough confidence in him to give him two top-level positions.

“It’s exciting, and it’s just another challenge that the administration has given me,” said Machuca, a former football player for Burbank High and with the Burbank Vikings Youth Tackle Football program. “They felt that I’m ready for the job and I was willing to take it. It makes me feel good that they have that much confidence in me.”

Bell-Jeff wasted little time naming a replacement for Johnson. In fact, Machuca was in place just five days after Johnson left to take a position at Santa Monica City College. When Machuca was hired as the Guards’ football coach, that decision came less than a month after former coach Rolando Aguirre stepped down.

Bell-Jeff Principal John Matheus said Machuca brings enthusiasm, organizational skills and talent to the new job.

“David is very energetic and innovative and he’s very organized, and those are things that good administrators need to have,” Matheus said. “He is someone the kids can relate to and we are looking forward to the excitement he will bring here to the campus.”

Machuca will likely have his hands full during the fall, as he tries to build back up a football program that has struggled in recent years. But Machuca has been reassured that he will be assisted with his administrative duties during the football campaign.

“The administration understands that football takes up a great deal of time, and they are willing to help me out during the football season,” he said. “It won’t be a one-person job during that time and I’m going to get a lot of help from the administration, and that’s always great.

“I’m going to be busy, for sure. I was in the middle of my master’s program, and that’s going to obviously have to take a back seat. With everything else I’m going to be doing, I just won’t have time for my master’s right now. There’s only 24 hours in a day and somehow I have to be able to get some sleep and get some meals in.”

Bell-Jeff struggled the past two seasons, finishing last in the Santa Fe League both years. The Guards went 2-8 this past season and were 5-15 (0-8 in league) the past two years.

Under Aguirre, who finished with a 69-68 record in 13 years as head coach, Bell-Jeff proved it could be a successful program. In just his second season as coach in 2000, the Guards won a share of the Santa Fe League championship. It was the program’s first title in 46 years.

Bell-Jeff also captured undisputed championships in 2004 and 2007, as the teams finished with 9-2 records both seasons.