Former Santa Margarita football assistant John Byszewski joins Crean Lutheran

John Byszewski has joined Crean Lutheran’s football staff. (Photo courtesy Crean Lutheran High School)

Former Santa Margarita High School assistant coach John Byszewski has joined the football staff at Crean Lutheran High School, head coach Rick Curtis said Saturday.

He will be the head freshman coach and also coach the outside linebackers on the varsity, said Curtis, who used to be the head football coach at Santa Margarita.

“I am blessed to be reunited with John Byszewski from Santa Margarita,” Curtis said in an Email Saturday. “John coached for me during my tenure at SM and we became good friends and have stayed in touch for the past four years.

“Coach Byszewski, who enjoys working with directly the students will do so at Crean Lutheran as a full-time employee on the campus supervision team,” Curtis said.

“I’m excited to be joining the team at Crean Lutheran,” Byszewski said by Email Sunday. “I am looking forward to being involved with the Crean students during the day and then coaching alongside Rick and the other Saints’ coaches each afternoon. Rick is someone that I’ve always had a lot of respect for and am blessed to have this opportunity ahead of me.” 

Curtis said that Byszewski is well qualified from his previous coaching experience.

“John coached the outside linebackers and special teams on the varsity team during my tenure at Santa Margarita and he has also coached football on all levels for the Eagles,” Curtis said. “Coach Byszewski has been the defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator on the varsity level during his time at Santa Margarita,  which has spanned 20 years.

“John was a member of the first graduating class at Santa Margarita and after going to college in Colorado he returned to his alma mater to begin coaching and working in the dean’s office. For the last 10 years, Byszewski has worked in the athletic department as its athletic manager.”

“Ironically, Coach Byszewski was the defensive coordinator at Santa Margarita when Justin Danh played for the SM Eagles. Coach Danh is the Crean Lutheran Saints defensive coordinator and is ecstatic to have his former coach join our staff.”

The announcement by Curtis on Twitter resulted in numerous tweets from Orange County coaches and athletes praising the move.

“As you can see by the Twitter posts Coach Byszewski is a transformational coach, one who creates lasting relationships while transforming boys into young men and leading them closer to Jesus Christ,” Curtis said. “John fits in perfectly with the type of coaches that we are assembling here at Crean Lutheran.”

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