Former Uni coach re-unites with Will Ferrell

Former University football coach Rick Curtis re-united with one of his former players, Will Ferrell, at a Laker game.

Star comedian, movie actor and producer Will Ferrell and former University football coach Rick Curtis had a re-union at a Laker game last season, Curtis explained Saturday during a summer passing league tournament at Irvine Stadium.

Ferrell, a graduate of University High School in Irvine, was happy to take a picture with Curtis as the two shared memories of their days at the Irvine high school.

“That was pretty cool,” said Curtis, now the head football coach at Capistrano Valley Christian. “He was as funny as ever. He was funny in high school. We had the KUHS morning show (with Will Ferrell and another student) and we had to censor them almost every morning. Everybody was in their seats for the 9 o’clock show and they did the announcements for the day. Nobody was late to class, because they wanted to hear the show.

“He was destined to be a star. He was in my business classes and p.e., and of course football.”

Ferrell was a wide receiver and kicker for University.

“He also played basketball,” Curtis said.

At the Laker game, Curtis and his family had VIP seats close to where Ferrell was. But Curtis still had to maneuver his way to the area Ferrell was sitting and had a family member take the picture.

Initially, the security guard wouldn’t let Curtis go see Ferrell.

“I said, ‘I know Will Ferrell, I was his coach in high school.’ It was high security.”

Eventually, Curtis and his family reached where Ferrell was.

“He said, ‘Coach Curtis,'” after spotting Curtis.

“We talked about 15 minutes and it was cool,” Curtis said. “He asked what I was doing mostly. I knew what he was doing, making movies for $20 million. It was great.”