Austin Jones never backed down from a challenge when he was a player. And he seems willing to tackle them in his new life as a high school football coach.
Jones earlier this week was approved by the Lake Elsinore Unified School District as Lakeside High School’s new football coach. The selection of Jones will surprise some because he turns 24 next month and is only five months removed from chasing his dream of being an NFL running back.
Jones will be among the youngest varsity football coaches in Inland Empire history. But his age was not seen as a liability during the hiring process.
“Sometimes, bringing in someone new and young gets everyone excited,” Lakeside athletic director Scott Lawson said. “Athletes nowadays don’t always connect with older coaches. We had more experienced candidates, but the committee believed that Austin was the best fit for us. Everyone has to get their first head coaching job at some point in their life. We felt like if we passed on him now, it could be something we would end up regretting in the future.”
Jones is a California native who graduated from Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland. He played three seasons at Stanford (2019-21) and two more at USC (2022-23). He signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent in April of 2024. Jones was released in August and took an assistant coaching position at Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas. His only other coaching experience is as a youth sports volunteer.
The Lakeside football program has a 55-142 record (.279) in its 20-year existence and will enter the 2025 season having lost 23 consecutive games.
“I believe it’s a really great opportunity,” Jones said. “I am looking forward to coming in here, help this program grow, and also showing what I can do.
“I think I bring a lot of relatability to the program that some other coaches might not be able to provide. I can coach them and talk to them in ways that might make them feel more comfortable. The support I have received from everyone has been amazing, and I’m ready to get things moving forward.”
Jones will call the offensive plays himself and plans to install a Lincoln Riley-style, no-huddle scheme. Jones has hit the ground running and has already filled out most of his staff. Eric Russell, an assistant at Cerritos College the past five seasons, will be the Lancers’ new defensive coordinator.
“We need coaches who are willing to go that extra mile for the players.” Jones said. “We are going to have to work harder than the average staff.”
PIERCE BACK IN THE SADDLE
Rancho Cucamonga has turned to a familiar face to be its next football coach.
Alex Pierce, who coached nine seasons at Carter (2008-2016) and five at Los Osos (2017-21), recently was announced as the Cougars coach. Pierce compiled a record of 79-66-1 in his previous coaching stops. He has been an assistant coach at Rancho Cucamonga the past two years.
Pierce will be the program’s third head coach in as many seasons. Brian Hildebrand was the coach for the 2022 and 2023 seasons but stepped down shortly before the start of the 2024 campaign for health reasons. Ofa Fifita took the reins on short notice and guided the Cougars to a 6-5 record. Fifita is a counselor and time commitments prevented him from staying in that position. He will return to being the defensive coordinator.
“I want to bring some stability back, and I think we’re in a position to do that,” Pierce said. “I’ve been coaching since 2002 and am not going to be overwhelmed. I’ve been able to build good relationships with the players during my two years here, and most of the staff is coming back.
“Our goal is to make sure Rancho Cucamonga maintains a high level of excellence. The expectations are high and we want to meet all of them.”
Pierce said Rancho Cucamonga will have another strong nonleague schedule for the 2025 season, including a showdown against Centennial.
OTHER RECENT HIRES
— Etiwanda turned to one of its own to lead the football program next season. Paul Unga played football and graduated from Etiwanda in 2003. Unga went on to play at Mt. San Antonio College and Arizona State. Unga most recently was the defensive coordinator at Bethel High School in Spanaway, Wash. He takes over for Nick Baiz, who compiled a 41-23-1 record over six seasons and led the program to a CIF Southern Section title in 2022.
— Jurupa Hills has tabbed Cade Sparks to lead its football program next season. Sparks was a standout quarterback at Summit High School (graduated in 2016) and played collegiately at San Bernardino Valley College and Indiana State. He will be the program’s third coach in as many seasons. Citos Marinez led the Spartans to a section title in 2023 but left after that season to take the job at Rowland. Tommy Leach took over but stepped down after one season. Sparks was Leach’s offensive coordinator for the 2024 season.
— Notre Dame recently announced Chasen Gempeler as its new football coach. Gempeler is a Vista Murrieta graduate (2014) who played collegiately at College of the Redwoods and Kansas Wesleyan. Gempeler was the quarterbacks and receivers coach at Mount Marty University, an NAIA school in South Dakota. Gempeler previously was an assistant at Graceland University in Iowa and Shadow Ridge High School in Arizona. He will look to jumpstart a program that enters the 2025 season on a 22-game losing skid.
— There are a number of Inland high schools in the process of seeking a new football coach, including Arroyo Valley, Ayala, Chino, Don Lugo, Jurupa Valley, Orange Vista, Redlands East Valley, Rialto, and United Christian Academy.
