Santa Ana’s Luis Cruz named new varsity football coach at Sunny Hills High School

Luis Cruz talks to his Santa Ana players during a game this past season. (PHOTO: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Sunny Hills officials announced Friday that Luis Cruz, head coach at Santa Ana the past two seasons, has been named the school’s new varsity football coach.

“We are excited for Coach Cruz to get started,” Sunny Hills Athletic Director Paul Jones told OC Sports Zone Friday “He brings over 14 years of football knowledge as a coach and is a former collegiate quarterback at Mars Hill University.

“The kids met him and are fired up to get to work. Coach Cruz’s knowledge, leadership, hustle and organization really made him standout to us and we know he will do great things for the Lancers. The future is sunny on the hill.”

Cruz had a 6-14 overall record at Santa Ana in two seasons. The Saints were 0-10 the last two seasons in the Iota League.

He also had previous experience at Fullerton College and Esperanza and Valencia high schools.

Sunny Hills was 6-4 overall and 2-3 in the Lambda League last season.

Santa Ana Athletic Director Brian Lillie said the Saints have promoted Jarid Allchin to head coach. Allchin completed his fifth year with the program. He was hired by former coach Charlie TeGantvoort as a physical education teacher and ASB director, Lillie said.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com