Sports

Santa Margarita Opens Up Football Hiring Window

The search for the replacement for Harry Welch has begun. The school figures to get applications from throughout the United States.

By Martin Henderson

The search for the replacement of Harry Welch as Santa Margarita Catholic's football coach has begun.

The school on Monday sent out an announcement opening up the hiring process for what may well be one of the plum coaching jobs in the state if not the nation. When Welch was hired four years ago, he was selected from a field that included aspirants nationwide. Welch himself, though, coached at nearby St. Margaret's Episcopal in San Juan Capistrano.

Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

An application can be filed online from Oct. 30 to Nov. 30. Head coaching experience is required, and there is a teaching position available. 

Santa Margarita's football program has produced four league championships, three Southern Section championships, and one State Bowl Championship. Celebrating its 25th year this season, the Eagles have had four four CIF Players of the Year, including 1998 winner Carson Palmer who went on to win the Heisman Trophy at USC.

Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the application:

"Applicants must exemplify the vision of Santa Margarita Catholic High School which is ever faithful to the charism of Caritas Christi, the love of Christ, and the pursuit of excellence. Santa Margarita Catholic High School attracts and inspires diverse, principled and talented young men and women. By encouraging innovative faculty, our learning community empowers students with the experiential knowledge, multidisciplinary skills, and self-confidence to become faith-filled, responsible stewards of God's earth."

Resumes should be submitted to athletic director Rich Schaaf; the employment application can be filled out on-line from the school’s web site. To access the employment application, click here.

Welch is in his fourth season at Santa Margarita and has announced he will be retiring at the conclusion of the season. The Eagles last week upset Mater Dei, ranked as high as No. 16 in the nation, and are vying for one of three automatic playoff berths from the Trinity League, which Maxpreps ranked as the second-toughest league in America. The Eagles are ranked No. 5 in the Orange County Top 10, and this week play fourth-ranked Orange Lutheran.

TELL US IN THE COMMENTS: What kind of coach, or who in particular, would you like to see coaching the Eagles?


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