St. Paul High School’s Football Coach Fired After 2 Years

SANTA FE SPRINGS —  Rick Ready has been fired as football coach at St. Paul High School.

The school’s new principal, Father Robert Gallagher, informed Ready of the action Tuesday. Gallagher told Ready he hoped to appoint a new coach by March 1.

“I feel it is apropos to make the change now,” Gallagher said. “We appreciate the contributions Coach Ready has made.”

Ready, 30, guided the Swordsmen to two consecutive Big Five Conference playoff appearances in two seasons at the school. He was 13-9. St. Paul, which once boasted 19 consecutive playoff appearances, failed in three consecutive playoff bids before Ready was hired in 1985.

During the recent football season Ready said his efforts to rebuild the program were hampered by the administration’s refusal to allow him to hire full-time coaches familiar with his system.

He has been interviewed for the vacant Cal Poly San Luis Obispo coaching job and has also had discussions with officials at College of the Canyons about re-starting the football program there, which was discontinued five years ago. Ready lives in nearby Canyon Country.