San Pasqual promotes offensive coordinator, keeps coaching tradition alive

Tradition isn’t just a word at San Pasqual High School. It’s a way of life.

In the 53 years since the school opened, the Eagles have had just four head football coaches. Mike Dolan ran the program for 21 years before turning it over to Tony Corley, who was in charge for the last 19 years before announcing his retirement at the end of the 2025 season.

Longtime offensive coordinator Andrew Clark, who played for Corley, has been named the new head coach.

“Andrew understands the game, but he also understands what San Pasqual is all about,” said Dolan, who coached Corley as a player. “Gordon Marsh was the first head coach, but it really all started with Bob Woodhouse, then worked through me, to Tony and now to Andrew.

“Things have changed. We used to be a two-platoon football program. We ran the triple-option. Now, with Andrew calling the offense, they throw the ball.

“This will be Andrew’s program, but he will keep the traditions.”

Like the jackets.

San Pasqual players take the field in gold jackets to Brotherhood of Man’s “United We Stand,” a tradition that’s been going for 50 years.

“Hell yeah, we’re keeping the jackets,” said Clark, who at age 45 has been part of the San Pasqual landscape for 27 years.

Corley leaves coaching with a 111-95-1 record and six league championships. Among active coaches, only Cathedral Catholic’s Sean Doyle (251), Ramona’s Damon Baldwin (135), El Capitan’s Ron Burner (126), Morse’s Tracy McNair (119), Lincoln’s David Dunn (116), Granite Hills’ Kellan Cobbs (115) and Carlsbad’s Thadd MacNeal (114) have more wins.

Clark coached San Pasqual for most of the 2023 season after Corley suffered an aortic dissection following the first game. Corley was suffering for several hours at home before his wife, Mavany, had him rushed to the hospital, where he underwent emergency four-hour surgery. Doctors said Corley would have died in about an hour had she not taken charge.

While Corley loves the San Pasqual program, he said he doesn’t plan to be around much.

He said he’s “leaving on my own terms and have no regrets.”

“Part of that is because I 100% believe Andrew was the only choice for this job,” he said. “I’d like to travel, maybe see some big games … Ohio State-Michigan, LSU-Alabama, the Rose Bowl — maybe learn something and pass it along to Andrew. I’d like to stay involved with kids. I’d still like to be a positive influence.”

Corley said he has “a lot of vivid memories” from his coaching tenure.

“Of course, my first team in 2007 stands out. We were 8-3, but it was such a great group. There was a lot of support and love,” he said. “Our 2013 team that lost to Cathedral Catholic (37-31 in three overtimes in the San Diego Section Division 1 championship game in Qualcomm Stadium) was special.

“We had a long losing streak (21 games spanning the 2008-10 seasons). That’s hard to forget.

“And I hate to do this because I’ll forget somebody, but players like Kyle Hendrickson, Tyler Tony, Daniel Minamide, Jajuan Thomas and Jessie Crowder fighting through cancer are among my favorites.”

San Pasqual transitioned out of its old offense and became a throwing team behind quarterback Robert Renteria and receiver Marcus Rocha.

“We learned it’s how you coach, not what you coach, that matters. It’s how you prepare that counts,” Corley said. “I’ll miss team dinners. Honestly, I’ll miss the seniors. Continuity is part of what San Pasqual is all about. Mike Dolan embraced what Bob Woodhouse introduced here.

“Mike passed the tradition to me, and it has passed to Andrew. He’s an awesome football coach. He gets it. He’s the person to carry on what we’ve built here.”

Coaching changes

A look at this offseason’s San Diego Section football coaching changes:

Bonita Vista: Jay Hernandez was let go after going 10-14 in two seasons as head coach. Diante Lee, a former defensive coordinator at Mt. Carmel, has been hired.

Coronado: Kurt Hines was let go. Josh Dean has been hired. Dean was an all-conference quarterback at Willamette University and played professionally in Europe before starting his coaching career as an assistant at Willamette, then at El Modena High School in Orange County. He was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Bishop’s from 2021-2025.

El Camino: Michael Hobbs stepped down after nine seasons, two section championships and a 51-54 record. El Camino hopes to announce a replacement soon.

Escondido: Stephen Dixon stepped down after three years and a 12-23 record. School officials are conducting interviews this week and hope to have a decision by next week.

Francis Parker: DJ Walcott stepped down after two seasons and a 9-12 record. The Lancers were 5-5 last season as an 8-man program. There is no timetable to announce a replacement.

Mission Hills: Chris Hauser retired during the season. Applications close Friday, with a decision on a new coach expected in two weeks. Hauser spent 22 years at Mission Hills, compiling a 176-74-2 record with nine league championships and an Open Division championship in 2013

Mount Miguel: Verlain Betofe is moving on after three seasons and a 29-9 record. School officials said they are formulating a plan for a replacement and will move as quickly as possible to name a new coach.

San Diego: Syd Reed stepped down after four years, posting a 23-23 record, including 7-6 last season. The Cavers named former San Diego Chargers linebacker Stephen Cooper as Reed’s replacement. Cooper was the team’s defensive coordinator the last two seasons. He was previously the head coach at Francis Parker for five years, posting a 22-34 record.

Scripps Ranch: Marlon Gardinera retired at the end of the season after nine years as the head coach, finishing with a 61-36 record, three league titles, a San Diego Section championship and a 2021 state title. John Taylor, who has been on Gardinera’s staff for eight years, has been named head coach. Taylor has worked as the team’s offensive coordinator and was co-head coach last season.

Valhalla: Wayne Cherry stepped down after four years and an 11-31 record. School officials said the job will be posted at the end of this month.

— JOHN MAFFEI