Gomez Replaces Miller as Coach of Santa Ana’s Football Team

Jesse Gomez has been named interim football coach at Santa Ana High, Athletic Director Frank Alvarado said Monday. He replaces Mark Miller, who resigned Friday to become an assistant football coach and math teacher at Mission Viejo.

Gomez, who graduated from Santa Ana in 1991, was a lineman at Santa Ana College and USC, where he played in the 1994 Cotton Bowl and the 1995 Rose Bowl. He has taught physical science and been an assistant football coach at Santa Ana for two years.

“I felt there was not enough time to advertise, interview and get school board approval to hire a new coach by the time practice starts,” Alvarado said. “We’ll evaluate things at the end of the season.”

Despite an overall record of 3-27, Miller was credited with stabilizing the Saints’ program and increasing its number of participants, Alvarado said.

“Of course, the time couldn’t be worse, but that’s the way life is sometimes,” Miller said in a prepared statement. “It was inevitable that I would eventually have to step down from coaching when my son reached the varsity level anyway.”

Aaron Miller, Mark’s oldest son, will be attending Mission Viejo this fall.

“It is an opportunity I can’t pass up,” Mark Miller said. “To coach my children at the school whose district we reside in and spend more time with my family.”