High school football: Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson announces retirement at end of season

No one was sure when Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) head coach Bruce Rollinson was going to step away from coaching. Most knew it would be soon, and the high school football world got its answer Thursday evening when the program's football account tweeted a message from Rollinson.

"I have recently decided that this year will be my last year as head coach of Mater Dei football. After playing 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 our winning tradition."

Rollinson is in his 34th year as head coach and has gone 339-86-2 leading Mater Dei to three CIF Open Division state titles (2017, 2018, 2021). They have finished ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 every year since 2016, excluding 2020 when football was moved to the spring and not included in the national rankings.

The Monarchs went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in high school football in 2017 and never trailed at any point. They finished ranked at No. 2 in the final MaxPreps Top 25 in 2018 and 2019.

Last season Rollinson led Mater Dei to another wire-to-wire finish as the No. 1 team in the country and has the Monarchs ranked at No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25 as the CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals get underway on Friday. They host JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) at 7 p.m. 

Rollinson has coached some of Southern California's top talent during his tenure including Bryce Young, Matt Leinart, JT Daniels, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Matt Barkley, Matt Grootegoed, Bru McCoy, Tommy Brown, Elias Ricks, Mase Funa, Raleek Brown, Khaled Holmes, Domani Jackson, C.J. Williams, David Bailey and Elijah Brown.

Rollinson will go down as one of the best high school football coaches in state history.

He has Mater Dei in position to repeat as MaxPreps National Champs and if the Monarchs can navigate the CIF Southern Section Division 1 bracket and win the Open Division state title. It would be the third time since 2017 they would finish ranked No. 1.