High school football: Five potential candidates to replace Frank McManus as Mater Dei head coach

One of the premier high school football programs in the country is looking for a head coach for the second time in as many years. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) released a statement last Friday announcing the departure of Frank McManus, who took over for Bruce Rollinson last season. In his lone year as head coach, McManus led the Monarchs to a 13-1 record, Open Division state title and No. 3 national ranking.

Rollinson was the head coach at Mater Dei for 34 years and retired after the 2022 season with a 341-87-2 record. McManus spent 16 years coaching under Rollinson and was the varsity defensive backs coach for seven seasons before taking over in 2023.

The vacancy is one of the hottest jobs on the market. Mater Dei has finished ranked in the top three nationally in each of the last six seasons. The Monarchs have won four state titles (2017, 2018, 2021, 2023) and two MaxPreps National Championships (2017, 2021).

Expectations will once again be sky high going into 2024

The Monarchs will be in the mix to begin next season as the No. 1 team in the country with highly-touted prospects like Jordon Davison, Daryus Dixson, Kodi Greene, Marcus Harris, Chris Henry Jr., Chuck McDonald III, Abduall Sanders Jr., Tomu Topui and Nasir Wyatt headlining the roster.

Here is a look at five potential candidates that could take over as the next head coach at Mater Dei. Jon Ellinghouse, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)

It might be a longshot to get Ellinghouse to leave Sierra Canyon but if any program has the pull to do it, it would be Mater Dei. He has built Sierra Canyon into one of the premier programs in California and is fresh off his first Southern Section Division 1 postseason appearance. He has led the program to a 170-38 record and two CIF state championships during his 17-year tenure as head coach.

If the Monarchs want to hire someone within, then Holmes is the perfect candidate. He graduated from Mater Dei in 2008 before a standout career at USC. He has been on the staff since 2020 as the offensive line coach. He was named associate head coach in 2023 and serves as special assistant to president Mike Brennan.

Took over as head coach at St. Anthony in 2021 and has led the Saints to a 21-14 record. Before Mike Brennan took over as president at Mater Dei, he spent six months at St. Anthony after a 15-year run at Servite (Anaheim). Lara is well-known for his 13-year career as head coach at Long Beach Poly (Long Beach). He went 142-30 and led them to five Southern Section titles. Lara also spent time as head coach at Warren (Downey) and was an assistant coach at Servite before taking over at St. Anthony.

Spent last season as an assistant coach at Edison (Huntington Beach) after being the head coach at Servite from 2018 until 2022. He led the Friars to a runner-up finish in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs in 2021. Thomas went 26-23 during his second stint as head coach at Servite. He was also the head coach from 2005-12 and went 75-25, leading the Friars to two Pac-5 titles and a Division II state championship in 2009. Thomas has a long history with Mater Dei's current president Mike Brennan working together at Servite.

Named the interim head coach after McManus' departure. He is currently listed as offensive coordinator and coordinator of football operations. Wright spent time coaching at UC Davis and JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) before Mater Dei and is one of the best offensive minds in Southern California.