Frank McManus’ run as the head coach of the Mater Dei Monarchs (Santa Ana, Calif.) football program has ended after one year at the helm.
According to LA Times’ Eric Sondheimer, Randall Wright, who serves as the coordinator of football operations, has been appointed the interim coach, and associate head coach Khaled Holmes will assist.
Sondheimer shared the full release from Mater Dei via X:
Release. pic.twitter.com/Ekfk3jSHp3
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) April 12, 2024
It’s a shocking turn of events for the man who had the tall task of taking over for legendary Bruce Rollinson, a coaching icon who racked up 341 wins over 34 years that included state titles as well as five USA TODAY Super 25 national champion crowns.
McCanus was part of Rollinson’s staff for 16 seasons, and was very much considered the right hire when the Hall of Fame coach ended his run after the 2022 season — one that had plenty of shadowed controversy leading up to it, including accusations of overlooking hazing incidents.
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Bruce Rollinson of the Mater Dei Monarchs looks on as the team during warm ups ahead of the game against the St. John Bosco Braves during the 2022 CIF-SS-Ford Division 1 Football Championship at Rose Bowl Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
The former assistant lived up to the challenge in 2023, though, finishing with a 13-1 record, the Southern Section title, an Open Division state championship, and the No. 3 spot in the final Super 25.
Why the sudden ousting?
According to Sondehimer, who has covered the Monarch’s meteoric rise over the years, McManus was taking heat because of “not playing backups enough in games.”
Whether that type of cause becomes clearer or substantiated remains to be seen— very much in the same line of who the next coach will be …
The Mater Dei officials didn’t add much insight in the above statement, noting that “We are saddened to announce Coach McManus’ departure from Mater Dei. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Mater Dei opens up the 2024 season with Centennial (Corona, Calif.) on August 23.
