PRESS
RELEASE
310.450.8338, ext. 229 01 JUL 2010
DANIEL ESCALERA TO SERVE AS
NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR SAMOHI
Dr. Hugo
Pedroza, Principal of Santa Monica High School, announced that Coach Daniel
Escalera has been appointed as the new Athletic Director for Santa Monica High
School. He will also serve as the high
school’s CIF representative.
Mr.
Escalera has coached for thirty-six years, mainly in football at all levels, in
baseball at Samohi, as well as Little League baseball at Los Amigos and Santa
Monica Girls Softball. He has served as
the head coach for football at St. Monica's and Santa Monica high schools, and
as assistant coach at Samohi, Loyola High in Los Angeles (2005 CIF
Championship), Venice High, University High, and St. Monica High. At Cal State University at Northridge, he had
the opportunity to coach with one of the highest pass offensive colleges in the
country. He has also coached with Santa
Monica College’s football program.
Escalera
believes that athletics and extracurricular activities in general are a key
part of the high school experience. “Athletics
can enrich a student’s experience and provide and additional set of mentoring
eyes for the student-athlete,” commented Escalera. “Students learn things such as discipline,
hard work, perseverance, goal setting, team work, sacrifice, and school pride –
all things that translate into the classroom, thereby enhancing their academic
success.”
Mr.
Escalera said he feels honored to direct one of the largest and most successful
sports program on the Westside. "We
are blessed with an amazing coaching staff, one that is supported by the
district, community, faculty, and parents,” he remarked. “My goals include maintaining and exceeding
the current level of athletic success at Samohi, allowing student-athletes to
be proud of their contributions, experiences, and legacy to the Samohi and
SMMUSD.”
Mr.
Escalera became Samohi's athletic director following a simple and transparent
process, under the guidance of of the district’s Human Resources
Department. It was necessary for the
high school to appoint a new athletic director after the former director, Coach
Norm Lacy, passed away in May.
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SANTA
MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED
ph:
310.450.8338; fax: 310.581.1138
www.smmusd.org