Marina reopens search for football coach

Marina High has reopened its search for a new head football coach, Marina Principal Paul Morrow announced Thursday afternoon.

The school had announced Jan. 9 the naming of Kevin Oberlander as its new head coach of its football program. Morrow said that during the hiring process, the Huntington Beach Union High School District learned that Oberlander, 30, currently the head football coach and assistant athletic director who heads the physical education department head at Upland Western Christian High, did not possess “full, clear” teaching credential status, Morrow said.

“We need a full-time teacher and football coach here on campus,” Morrow said. “Our students deserve that and the program needs that stability.

Morrow also said in a release statement that the HBUHSD places a “high value on hiring fully-credentialed educators.”

“Kevin [Oberlander] is a great guy and an awesome coach who is still in the process of attaining his full teaching credential,” Morrow said. “He’ll get there, but I couldn’t deliver a full-time teacher to fill our position in a timely manner. We wish him great success and the school that does land him in the future, will be lucky to have him.”

Morrow said potential candidates with a full teaching credential can contact the school, (714) 893-6571, regarding the head football coach position.