After spending six years as an assistant under three head football coaches at Escondido High School, Ian Kelly felt it was time to throw his hat in the ring.
Escondido administrators made it official on Wednesday, naming the 31-year-old Kelly as the Cougars’ new coach.
Kelly replaces Stephen Dixon, who resigned after three seasons and a 12-23 record. Escondido went 2-9 last season.
Since Paul Gomes had a successful nine-year run from 2001 to 2009, going 59-37-7 and winning three league championships, Escondido has had five head football coaches — Dixon, Aaron Gideon, Jud Bordman, Steve Bridges and Jason Texler. Those five went a combined 49-95-2.
“It’s an honor to take over this program,” Kelly said. “I’m still a young man, but I have a lot of experience. So it was my time.”
Kelly played at Chaparral High School in Temecula, where he was an All-CIF defensive lineman.
He played two seasons at Palomar College and later at Colorado State-Pueblo, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He is now an on-campus special education teacher at Escondido.
“Being a head coach wasn’t my dream,” Kelly said. “But as time went on, one thing led to another, I gained knowledge and confidence, and wanted to give this a shot. I admire the coaches I played for — Andrew Ramer at Chaparral, Joe Early at Palomar. I’ve learned a lot from Jud Bordman and Stephen Dixon. I think I have a good feel on when to hit the gas and when to pump the brakes.”
Offensively, Kelly said he plans to play physical and put an emphasis on the run. Defensively, the Cougars will run a 3-3 stack with multiple fronts.
“And there will be an emphasis on the offensive and defensive lines,” he said.
Brawley job open
Veteran coach Bert Esposito has left Bawley High after one season as head football coach, going 2-9.