The Cardinal Newman High School football team gearing up for the upcoming season.
Frank McManus has officially taken the reins as the new head football coach at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa. After a successful tenure at Mater Dei where he led the team to a CIF state title, McManus steps in following Richard Sanchez’s departure to the University of La Verne. McManus brings a wealth of experience and excitement to a program coming off a strong season with high expectations for the future.
Santa Rosa is buzzing with excitement as Frank McManus has been appointed as the new head football coach at Cardinal Newman High School. This move comes after McManus’s impressive tenure at Mater Dei, where he made quite an impact on and off the field. He steps in to fill the shoes of Richard Sanchez, who recently left to take charge as the head coach at the University of La Verne. It looks like Santa Rosa football is geared up for a fresh start!
McManus isn’t just any football coach; he led Mater Dei to a CIF state Open Division title with a striking 13-1 record during his first and only season in charge. For a long 16 years, McManus was a beloved assistant coach at Mater Dei, proving his skills before taking over the head coach position from the legendary Bruce Rollinson, who holds the title of the third-winningest high school coach in California’s history.
Though McManus had a successful stint at Mater Dei, he was let go in April 2024 due to unspecified reasons, which some have suggested related to a cultural mismatch. Following this departure, he spent a season as an assistant at Mission Viejo High School. Despite the setback, McManus is ready for the challenge at Cardinal Newman, bringing a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the team.
Monica Mertle, the athletic director at Cardinal Newman, expressed her confidence that McManus is the right fit to lead the football program and nurture the student-athletes to reach their fullest potential. McManus himself is thrilled about the opportunity to join a school with a tradition of excellence and to work with what he calls a talented group of players.
The excitement doesn’t stop there! The Cardinal Newman football team had a stellar season last year, finishing with a fantastic 10-2 record and making their first-ever entrance into the North Coast Section Open Division playoffs. This sets the stage for an exhilarating upcoming season, especially with eight out of their sixteen all-league players returning, including the highly-touted freshman quarterback, LT Retamoza. Fans can’t wait to see how this young star will develop under McManus’s guidance.
As the football season fast approaches, the team has prepared a schedule that includes challenging nonleague games against formidable opponents like Manteca and Grant. These matchups promise to be intense, providing not only a great test for the players but also thrilling entertainment for fans. It’s clear that the stakes will be high, and everyone is eager to see how the team will rise to the occasion.
Mark your calendars, folks! The team will hit the practice field starting August 11, kicking off preparations for what promises to be an electrifying season. With a strong leader like McManus at the helm, there’s a buzz of optimism in the air. The community is ready, and everyone is rooting for a season filled with excitement, teamwork, and victories. Here’s to a new chapter in Cardinal Newman’s football journey with their fresh new coach!
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