Orange County football community mourns the death of beloved Coach Joe Wood

Long-time coach Joe Wood was an assistant coach at San Clemente High School. (Photo courtesy San Clemente athletics)

Orange County’s football community is mourning the death of beloved and highly-successful high school football coach Joe Wood, who died Friday at the age of 71 after a battle with COVID-19.

Wood, 71, was a teacher and assistant coach at San Clemente High School for the past 16 years and in 1996 as head coach, led Aliso Niguel High School to a CIF championship with a 14-0 record. He was Aliso Niguel’s first head coach.

Supporters had been holding nightly prayer vigils which they publicized on Twitter asking others to gather and pray for the coach.

“Right now, there are not set plans for a memorial,” San Clemente Head Coach Jaime Ortiz said on Sunday.

Ortiz shared the news of Wood’s death to the San Clemente football community with a letter he wrote Saturday.

“It is with a heavy heart that we let our football community know that long time coach and teacher Joe Wood has passed away. Coach Wood joined our SCHS Triton staff in 2005 as a teacher and coach and over the last 16 years, he had a huge impact on the students, athletes and community. He was a vital part of Triton football and much of our success was due to his hard work and dedication on and off the field serving our San Clemente community.

“With over 34 years of coaching in CUSD at SCHS, ANHS and CVHS, Joe won numerous league championships, multiple CIF championships and a state championship.  In 1996, he led the first senior class in Aliso Niguel history to a CIF championship, 14-0 undefeated record and was named ‘Coach of the Year’ by numerous organizations. At San Clemente High School, he played a major role in three league championships and a CIF and state championship in 2016.  Coach Wood’s impact on Orange County football is far and wide.

“Joe Wood was a loving coach who cared for his players on and off the field. He would open up his home for player dinners throughout the season and was always a text away if they needed anything. Coach Wood made it a point to develop a relationship with all of his players and continue those relationships past their high school years. He cared for his players as if they were his own sons and it was evident by the way they played for Coach Wood. 

“Coach Wood is survived by his loving wife Cheryl and his six daughters.  As much as he was a presence to high school football players, Joe always put his family first. His wife was his confidant in coaching and she was as big a part in the player’s lives as Joe. He made coaching and shaping the lives of young athletes a household habit for the Wood family.  We are devastated by his passing and his presence will truly be missed by the entire football community and those who knew him.”

Football coaches who knew Wood have been sharing their fond memories of the coach on social media since his death and pointing out the impact he had on football players.

Three coaches shared their memories with OC Sports Zone.

“I knew Joe very well as we have coached against each other on several occasions, dating back to our days at Irvine and Capo Valley,” current Crean Lutheran Head Coach Rick Curtis said Monday.

“I had also run into him at coaching clinics, passing tournaments, and other coaching-related events. I found Joe to always be personable and energetic each time that we met. I could always tell that Joe was passionate about coaching and was in coaching for all the right reasons, and especially in it for his players. I could see how hard his players played for him and much they enjoyed the impact that he had on their lives.

“While we never coached together, I would hear stories of his zest for life and passion for coaching from Jeff Veeder, Kurt Westling, Jaime Ortiz, and other coaches within the Capistrano Unified School District.

“Joe’s passing is a big loss to the Orange County coaching community and has really shocked our coaching fraternity in South Orange County. Coach Wood has left a lasting legacy with the players, coaches, and friends that he built relationships with. Coach Wood will be sorely missed by all of us, but his legacy will last forever. 

“Our sincere condolences go out to the Wood family and to the CUSD community.”

Former Woodbridge High football coach Rick Gibson, now athletic director, added:

“Joe Wood was a class coach who cared about his players. I remember when he was the head coach at Aliso. His kids played hard and clean. He will be missed.”

Kurt Westling, who was offensive coordinator for Wood on Aliso Niguel’s CIF title team, later became Aliso Niguel’s head coach and is now an assistant coach at Crean Lutheran, added:

“As a dad, he loved his daughters and loved his grandkids. He was a great friend to all, fun to hang with, a guy’s guy, was active, liked golfing and walking. As a coach, he was very energetic and vocal, a great motivator to kids, highly organized and a fighter and competitor who never shied away from playing anyone.

“He loved scheduling out of state games so players and coaches could bond and see the country. Throughout his life I saw him grow and constantly become a better person and man, a hard thing to do.”

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