Erik Terry resigns as Irvine High football coach becoming the third in the city to step down this week

Irvine football coach Erik Terry announced Thursday he has resigned.

Another Irvine high school is looking for a new varsity football coach.

Erik Terry announced Thursday he has resigned as football coach at Irvine after nine seasons and said he plans to move to Central California with his family to be closer to his parents.

No replacement has been made and Terry, while he does not have another coaching offer, said he hopes to coach in the future.

Terry, 49, told players and their parents of his decision in an afternoon meeting. Terry becomes the third football coach in three days in Irvine to leave.

He also sent a letter to the Vaquero football family, which he shared with OC Sports Zone for publication:

“It is with mixed emotions that I share the news with you that I have resigned my position as Head Football Coach at Irvine High School.  I have been on the football coaching staff at Irvine for 18 of my 25 years in coaching and it has been a great home for me.  The relationships I have developed and memories I have made during that time will be with me always.

“My wife Annie and I have prayed for the last few months over our future plans and with Rylee graduating at the end of this year the timing seems right to follow our hearts.  We are actively pursuing a move to the central coast of California where we can be closer to my parents.  My dad is in his late 70’s…. As the oldest of his children I feel a strong calling to be able to support him and my mom.  In addition, my dream is for him to be as active as possible in Luke’s life and high school athletic career.  If we are closer geographically we can make that a reality.

“There are so many people to thank for your support of our program over the years and I look forward to being able to thank you in person over the next six months.  I will be on campus for the remainder of the 2018-19 school year and will assist the administration in any way they see fit with the search for my replacement.”

On Tuesday, Scott Meyer announced he was leaving University to become the head football coach at Lakewood.

Wednesday, Northwood athletic director Phil Roh announced that Pete Mitchell had stepped down after two seasons. Mitchell has not been available for comment.

Terry took over the Irvine program from the previous long-time coach Terry Henigan in 2010. Terry had been a long-time assistant under Henigan, who retired.

The Vaqueros finished 5-7 overall and 3-2 in the Pacific Coast League and advanced to the CIF Division 11 playoffs, defeating Ocean View 30-14 in the opening round.

Irvine ended the season losing to Hemet 38-17 in the second round on the road in what turned out to be Terry’s final game as the Vaqueros coach.

It appears that coaching is still in the future for the personable Terry, who carried over many of the traditions that Henigan established, including the importance of the “Vaquero Football Family.”

“I will be looking for teaching positions and definitely want to coach football still,” he said. “(I’m) not looking for a head coaching job right away.”

Terry was assistant coach at Irvine from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2004-2009. He was also an assistant coach at El Toro from 2000 to 2001, an assistant at San Marcos from 2002-2003 and an assistant at South Torrance from 1994-1996.

Terry appeared to be popular among Irvine football players and fans.

“I’ve been around Coach Terry for awhile now for the past eight years with my brother and me, of course,” said Irvine quarterback Marc Filia.

“And I can truly say we wouldn’t be the people we are without his coaching abilities and how he is as a person and what his program has taught us. I attribute a lot of our team success to him and the coaching staff. He was there 18 of his 25 years of his coaching, and that’s a long time to spend at a school. No one can ever repay him for the amount of time and hours he’s put in to the program and furthering our development not only as players, but as young men.”

Q@A WITH FORMER IRVINE FOOTBALL COACH ERIK TERRY

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