David Machuca leaves Bell-Jeff football post for GCC

David Machuca spent just one season as head football Coach at Bellarmine-Jefferson. However, in that one season he helped the Guards get back to the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Unfortunately for Bell-Jeff, Machuca, 28, — who is also the school’s athletic director — has announced that he has stepped down as the program’s coach. Machuca said he is leaving the post and has accepted the position of offensive coordinator at Glendale Community College under Vaqueros Coach John Rome.

“The toughest thing was having to tell the kids on the team that I was leaving,” said Machuca, who talked to the team Wednesday. “Just the day before I accepted the new position I was with them in the weight room and now I’m having to tell them that I’m leaving. …It was very tough.”

Machuca’s resignation comes on the heels of word this week that Bell-Jeff Principal John Matheus is stepping down at the conclusion of the school year.

Machuca, who will also relinquish his athletic director position, added that the opportunity to coach on the collegiate level was one that he couldn’t pass up.

“There’s a lot going on at the school right now,” Machuca said. “And I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go to Glendale college and work with coach Rome. I think it’s a great opportunity for me and really it wouldn’t have been possible without all the hard work from the kids at Bell-Jeff.”

This past season, Bell-Jeff had a 4-7 record (2-2 in Santa Fe League). The Guards qualified for the CIF Southern Section Division Northeast playoffs, losing to No. 2 Rio Hondo Prep, 57-6. Rio Hondo Prep went on to win the division title, downing Mission Prep, 28-21.

It was the first time the Guards qualified for the postseason in three years.

Bell-Jeff struggled the previous two seasons before Machuca’s arrival, finishing last in the Santa Fe League both years. The Guards went 2-8 in 2011 and were 5-15 (0-8 in league) in the two years.

Machuca is familiar with the football culture in the city. Along with playing for the Burbank Vikings Youth Tackle Football program, he also competed for Burbank High.

He served in the U.S. Coast Guard for four years after graduating from Burbank and was an assistant at Chaminade under Ed Croson for two seasons.