Plaisance resigns at Village Christian

Hamlet Nalbandyan

GLENDALE -- Village Christian School football Coach Mike Plaisance

resigned after 20 years as the head coach Tuesday.

Plaisance, 50, will now concentrate on his duties as the Dean of

Students at the school. He is the only 11-man football coach at Village

Christian.

No replacement has been named yet. Plaisance’s career record at

Village Christian is 126-78-3. He led the Crusaders to 15 CIF playoff

appearances, two Alpha League titles in 1992 and 1994, and three CIF

semifinal appearances, in 1990, 1991 and 1995.

“It was time,” said Plaisance. “I’ve done it for 20 years, and I’m not

saying the hunger isn’t there anymore, but my job as the Dean of Students

has many responsibilities.

“If I can’t give 100% to being the football coach, then I can’t do it.

I guess this is the direction the lord wants me to go in.”

Plaisance coached at San Fernando Valley Christian for six years

before taking the Village Christian job.

The last two years have been tough on Plaisance, as youth has taken

over. The Crusaders were 3-7 last year after going 2-8 the previous

season, when 24 seniors graduated.

Plaisance has no plans of being a head coach again, but he says if

time permits, he would like to help out as an assistant.

“The decision I’ve made is the best for the kids and the school. But

it’s going to be difficult when September comes, that’s for sure,”

Plaisance said.

After coaching 20 years, Plaisance has many great memories coaching.

Like in 1988, when his Crusaders upset Montclair Prep, the Alpha League

champions that year, 23-20. Village Christian handed Montclair Prep its

only loss in league after an 11-play, 65-yard drive erased a 20-17

deficit.

Another favorite memory of his came in 1992 when his kicker, Egnacio

Brache, kicked a 60-yard field goal to beat archrival L.A. Baptist High.

Plaisance also recalls a CIF Southern Section Division XI second round

game against top-ranked Big Bear High. Coming in unseeded, the Crusaders

upset Big Bear in triple overtime, 21-20.

“For me, it was more about the relationships I made with the kids that

winning. I’m also very proud of the fact that a lot of my players became

head coaches at other schools,” Plaisance said.