Bruce Rollinson has been in charge of the Mater Dei High School football team for the past 34 years. He has made the program into a well-oiled machine that consistently produces dozens of college football players while competing for the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship.
However, the Monarchs' longtime coach will retire after this season.
After a successful tenure, Rollinson announced on Thursday that this will be his final season as Mater Dei High's captain.
During his long and fruitful residency at Mater Dei, Rollinson has instructed different Heisman Grant winning quarterbacks like previous USC QB Matt Leinart and current Alabama QB Bryce Youthful.
During his tenure as head coach, the program has produced hundreds of Division I college football players, including former USC quarterback Matt Barkley, current Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie.
Rollinson, who recently won his 339th game of his career at Mater Dei, told reporters earlier this season that he would play again in 2023.
According to an investigation that was published by the Orange County Register, the family of a former Mater Dei football player who claimed he was the victim of a hazing environment and suffered several serious injuries including a broken nose and traumatic brain injury has filed a lawsuit against the 73-year-old. This lawsuit has brought the 73-year-old into the spotlight.
Rollinson and Mater Dei's handling of the allegations and lawsuit, which were filed in November 2021, has been the subject of public scrutiny ever since.
Whether Rollinson's announcement is the result of the school's lawsuit has not been discussed by either Mater Dei or the Diocese of Orange.
Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium, Mater Dei will face San Juan Capistrano JSerra to begin the 2023 playoffs.
In a tweet posted to the team's Twitter account, Rollinson stated, "Having played at Mater Dei more than 50 years ago, 47 years coaching at Mater Dei, and 34 years as the head coach, making this decision at this time with the entire starting lineup returning next year, should make it easier for the next coach and Mater Dei to continue with our winning tradition."
"I am blessed to be able to closely assist in the selection process for the new head coach in the months following the season.Additionally, I pledge to provide the program with any and all assistance in the future.
"I would like to express my gratitude to Mater Dei as well as the players, coaches, parents, administrators, and students for providing me with the opportunity of a lifetime.Over the past 47 years, I owe Mater Dei and many others a great deal of gratitude.
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