JSerra Head Football Coach Pat Harlow Will Not Return Next Season

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — JSerra High School football program will have a new coach next year. On Thursday, Athletic Director Chris Ledyard confirmed that Head Football Coach Pat Harlow stepped down, effective Wednesday.

JSerra spring football suffered a disappointing season with five losses in the Trinity League. Still, Harlow's record as a coach has been respectable, according to Ledyard.

“Pat Harlow is one of the most respected men, not only here on campus and within his profession but in life,” Ledyard said in a prepared statement. “He is a man of virtue and has been a great leader and mentor to our student-athletes. JSerra was blessed to have a man of Pat’s character and integrity represent our school’s mission.”

President Rich Meyer acknowledged the need to identify Harlow’s successor with expedience, addressing the immediacy of Harlow's departure.

“We were disappointed to receive Coach Harlow’s news but respect his decision," Meyer said. "For the good of the young men in the program and for the record number of incoming students that have committed to being a part of the team, we have already begun to prudently consider both internal and external candidates along an accelerated timeline.”

Harlow compiled a 22-17 record in his four seasons at the helm of JSerra Football. In just his second season (2018), JSerra went 9-3 (3-2 in the Trinity League) and reached the CIF-SS Division 1 Quarterfinals.

It was the second-best season in school history. In 2019, JSerra was 6-5 with notable wins against East High School (Salt Lake City, UT) and Milton High School (Milton, GA) and earning a CIF playoff berth for the fourth time in school history.

During Harlow’s tenure, JSerra Football prepared more than 15 student-athletes to compete at the highest level of collegiate athletics at such institutions as USC, Washington, Michigan, Cal, Army, Columbia, and Penn, among others.

Harlow graduated from USC and was drafted by the New England Patriots in 1991, the OC Register reports. He and his wife Jennifer have three sons. Son Sean Harlow played at San Clemente High and has since played in the NFL as an offensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals.