Johnson Announces Resignation as Orange High Football Coach

S.K. Johnson, who hoped to change Orange High School’s football fortunes when he became coach in 1982, announced his resignation Wednesday.

Johnson, 35, was 4-35-1 in four seasons. The Panthers were 0-10 overall and 0-7 in Century League play last fall.

“I’ve put in enough time there--it’s time for me to move on,” Johnson said. “It’s simply time to let somebody else try to erase the (losing) tradition there.

“I’m not sorry that I came to Orange High, though. It’s a phenomenal place to teach and coach. The people are great to work with and the next coach should have a good base to start with, especially considering the new league and all.”

Next season, Orange will move from the strong Century League to the newly-formed Pacific Coast League along with Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Trabuco Hills, Costa Mesa, and Woodbridge.

Before coaching the Panthers, Johnson was head coach for four years at Lynwood, where he guided the Knights to a 35-10 mark, including the school’s first-ever San Gabriel League and Southern Section titles.

Dave Zirkle, Orange athletic director, said he hopes to fill the position by the start of spring football in mid-May.

Johnson will continue teaching English classes at Orange.