Prominent Area Coaches Bidding for Vacant Burroughs Football Job

Several prominent current and former area football coaches top the list of candidates for the vacant Burroughs High head coaching position, Principal Tim Buchanan said Wednesday.

Buchanan said Fred Cuccia of Poly, Tom Hernandez of San Fernando and Stan Quina, the former Simi Valley coach, are among the applicants for the job. Cuccia, Hernandez and Quina are among the area’s most successful coaches.

San Fernando has remained a power during Hernandez’s 12-year tenure. Cuccia and Quina are credited with quick turnarounds of woeful programs at Poly and Simi Valley.

The coaching job, which accompanies a full-time teaching position, opened when Buchanan fired co-Coach Jay Gudzin May 10--after one season and an 0-10 record--and co-Coach and Athletic Director Marty Garrison announced the following day he would not return to the team.

“We’ve got some good, good candidates,” Buchanan said. “We’re very pleased and we’re looking forward to starting the interviews.”

The application period ends Tuesday. A 10-member committee--comprising school officials, boosters and students--will take part in the interview process, Buchanan said.

No decisions concerning the soon-to-be-vacated baseball job are expected until after the football coach is selected. Baseball Coach Terry Scott said Monday he will step down after the Indians’ final Southern Section playoff game. Burroughs will take on Placentia Valencia in the opening round of the Division II playoffs Friday.

“Baseball can wait a little bit because we have time,” Buchanan said. “Football is the priority now because (summer) practices begin soon.”