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| Tyler Roach, in his third year as LJ football head coach, plugs in the video replay board before the Vikings' 28-14 win over Mater Dei Nov. 15 in the D3 quarterfinals. (Photo by Ed Piper) |
Here is a timeline for Tyler Roach, La Jolla High's 20th football coach since 1924:
Prior to 2000
His mother Laura says he was so big as a kid, he wasn't allowed to play youth tackle football one year against boys the same age. He exceeded the maximum allowable weight for the league. So he played flag football for a year. He was allowed to play tackle one other year. He later (2019) starts a youth flag football league in La Jolla.
2000-2003
In his high school years, Roach plays football at University City High under Coach Ollie Matson. He is an all-league center and middle linebacker, playing both ways his junior and senior years as a team captain. He is the team's MVP. He is also named Academic All-CIF. Tyler also plays baseball in high school. (He graduates from UC in June 2004.)
2004-2005
Tyler plays football at West Virginia State University his freshman and sophomore years. He transfers to Azusa Pacific University in L.A County, back on the West Coast.
2006-2007
Roach transfers to Azusa Pacific University in L.A. County, back on the West Coast. He is listed at 6'0", 240 pounds in his junior and senior years, and is named a 2007 All-NAIA Scholar-Athlete. A fullback and halfback, he graduates with an undergraduate degree in Sociology in 2008.
2009-2010
2012
After returning to the area following graduation, Roach serves as an assistant coach at his alma mater, University City High.
Roach serves as Defensive Coordinator for one year at Scripps Ranch, his wife Leslie's alma mater.
2013
Jason Carter, named LJHS head coach after the retirement of Rey Hernandez, names Roach his Offensive Coordinator whom he will share play-calling duties with. Carter, a quarterback and receiver in his playing days, including at Texas A&M and in the NFL, institutes a no-huddle, spread offense with junior quarterback Colin Rugg as his centerpiece. With a mandate to resurrect a program that has seen the number of athletes going out for football annually dwindling, Carter names several former Division 1 college players as assistant coaches, and begins a new fund-raising emphasis to purchase the inflatable tunnel for players to enter the field through, and other items.
The Vikings immediately begin scoring big, in a way the team hasn't for years, if ever, as a result of Rugg's prolific aerials in the speed-up offense. There are challenges, too, that come with Carter not being on campus as a staff member at LJHS or Muirlands, and it being his first head coaching job.
2014
Fall
Roach serves his second season as OC. Rugg, in his senior year, sets a CIF San Diego Section record with 46 touchdown passes, his favorite targets being fellow seniors Carlton O'Neal, who sets a school record for receptions, and Brandon Bonham, setting a school record for reception yardage.
October 16
Trey Enloe, a player on the junior varsity, reportedly suffers a concussion after a hard hit in a game. He and his family file a lawsuit a year later (in October 2015) against the San Diego Unified School District claiming that, despite displaying signs of a concussion, he was told to "suck it up" and keep playing by a JV assistant coach. The suit claims he suffered another hit when he returned to the game and had to be taken to a hospital. Trey is unable to attend school regularly due to continuing headaches, sensitivity to light, and other symptoms. This situation puts Carter in a difficult position, first denying to a reporter from Voice of San Diego that an incident occurred, then changing his story. VOSD published a story Jan. 5, 2015.
The LJHS football "family", which includes team physician Dr. Steve Hayden, respond by declaring the priority they place on students' health, and detailing the concussion protocol in place.
October 16
Trey Enloe, a player on the junior varsity, reportedly suffers a concussion after a hard hit in a game. He and his family file a lawsuit a year later (in October 2015) against the San Diego Unified School District claiming that, despite displaying signs of a concussion, he was told to "suck it up" and keep playing by a JV assistant coach. The suit claims he suffered another hit when he returned to the game and had to be taken to a hospital. Trey is unable to attend school regularly due to continuing headaches, sensitivity to light, and other symptoms. This situation puts Carter in a difficult position, first denying to a reporter from Voice of San Diego that an incident occurred, then changing his story. VOSD published a story Jan. 5, 2015.
This has nothing to do with Roach, but it creates a cloud over the program that is noticeable in the reticence of coaches and staff at the school to making statements of any kind to media (including to me).
The LJHS football "family", which includes team physician Dr. Steve Hayden, respond by declaring the priority they place on students' health, and detailing the concussion protocol in place.
2015
Fall
Roach completes his third season as OC under Carter. In the post-Colin Rugg era, La Jolla's offense struggles, with up to five losses ending under a running clock. Adding to the challenges, the Vikings play all their games away, as reconstruction on Edwards Stadium and other athletic facilities continues. This necessitates practices at Muirlands Middle School, with equipment kept in a storage container next to the field.
2016
January
Jason Carter belatedly resigns after three seasons as La Jolla head coach, later going on to serve as Offensive Coordinator at Mission Bay, before moving over in the same role at Lincoln.
John McColl, Operations Manager, provides continuity by ensuring that athletes have an opportunity to do weight training in the offseason, even before a new head coach is named.
Spring
Matt Morrison, an assistant at La Costa Canyon, is hired as the new Vikings head coach.
Fall
Roach serves one year as Offensive Coordinator for La Jolla Country Day School's record-setting offense with Braxton "Cole" Burmeister at quarterback. Burmeister sets several CIF San Diego Section records, then goes on to start at quarterback for a brief spell as a freshman at the University of Oregon. He later transfers in pursuit of more playing opportunities.
Meanwhile, Morrison, an elementary school teacher at a parochial school in Ocean Beach, pays attention to detail and guides the LJHS program through the slate of games in his lone season at LJHS. Players and coaches are able to move into the newly remodeled and updated athletic facilities on campus, the first group to use them after almost two years of working out of storage containers on the practice field at Muirlands.
2017
Early 2017
After the turn of the year, Matt Morrison accepts the head coaching position at Francis Parker, his alma mater where his father John coached him to CIF championships and CIF Player of the Year awards as the Lancers' quarterback--his dream job, one he can't turn down. His father, since retired, agrees to come back and serve as an assistant coach to his son.
McColl again provides continuity between head coaches with support of offseason weight training and the like.
February/March
With the hiring away of Morrison after the New Year, Roach is hired as head coach with a shortened offseason to prepare for the 2017 season. He had applied for the position when Morrison was hired the year before. He holds Spring Practice at the end of May and early June.
August
Roach institutes a new tradition, Family Day, a Saturday barbecue and public workout designed to bring families of team members together for food and bonding. A tour of the facilities is given parents.
November
La Jolla completes its first season under Roach as head coach, reaching the Division 3 playoffs.
2018
October
La Jolla completes its second season under Roach as head coach, missing the playoffs.
2019
August
Roach announces a new youth flag football league for boys and girls, affiliated with future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. Brees comes to LJHS and speaks to 35 youth who have registered by that time.
Nov. 1 - La Jolla downs Christian, 20-19, to win the Eastern League championship outright. It is the Vikings' first league title since 1995.
Nov. 15 - La Jolla defeats Mater Dei Catholic 28-14 in the Division 3 quarterfinals, reaching a spot in the CIF semifinals against Brawley.
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