Long-time Oceanside football Head Coach John Carroll retired on Wednesday due to health concerns after serving as the head coach the past 26 seasons for the Pirates, but will continue to work with the school or district.
“John’s decision threw me for a loop,” offensive line coach Rick Gerardi said to UT-San Diego. “The last two years — this season in particular — have been hard for him physically. He should have been taking it easy, but he only knows one way, so he gutted it out.”
Carroll, 57, had been dealing with blood clots in his neck, and also suffered a brain injury after falling at a practice last season.
He ended with a 248-75-6 record and finished with an all-time record 13 San Diego Section titles, and also lead the Pirates to state titles in 2007 and 2009.
This season the Pirates were defeated by Folsom in the state Division I final.
According to UT-San Diego, possible candidates to replace Carroll are offensive line coach Rick Gerardi and defensive coordinator Pulu Poumele.