Rick Curtis selected as new football coach at Crean Lutheran High School

Rick Curtis is returning to Irvine to coach at Crean Lutheran. (Photo courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs, For OC Sports Zone)

Crean Lutheran High School officials on Tuesday announced that Rick Curtis has been named the school’s new football coach. Curtis will also teach at Crean Lutheran and be the director of athletic leadership.

For the last four years, Curtis has been the head coach at Capo Valley Christian, where he was also athletic director. He replaces Randall Reynoso, who resigned to take the head coaching job at El Toro. Reynoso had a 7-13 overall record in two seasons. Crean Lutheran was 0-10 in league play during that time. The Saints were 3-7 overall and 0-5 in the Empire League last season.

“The Saints’ family is excited to begin the next chapter in football with a sage and faithful coach who has a proven track record,” said Crean Lutheran’s  Executive Director and CEO Jeffrey Beavers in a statement.

“Coach Curtis knows how to build a strong and cohesive football program, and especially understands how faith can impact the lives of young men beyond the gridiron. The Crean Lutheran community is excited and blessed to welcome Coach Curtis and his family.”

Beavers said that Curtis and his wife Mary worship at The Shoreline Church in San Clemente.

The statement noted that the Curtis family includes daughters, Leslie and Ashleigh, and sons John, Steven, Bryan, Sean and Blake.

“They are now enjoying the abundant blessings of five grandchildren, with one more on the way,” the statement said.

Sean Curtis is also the head coach at Capo Valley High School.

Rick Curtis also was the head coach at University, Irvine and Northwood. He started up the Northwood program and led the Timberwolves to the CIF quarterfinals three times and the CIF semifinals and finals once.

He later went on to coach at Santa Margarita before being leaving and later joining CVC. CVC won the league title in 2018 and this past year, the Eagles were 7-4 overall and 2-1 in league.

“Coach Curtis is passionate about initiating and facilitating collegiate recruitment,” the statement from Beavers added. “He has helped his players earn opportunities and scholarships at several universities, including Stanford, Oklahoma, USC, UCLA, Washington State, Navy, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Lehigh, New Hampshire and others.”