Rod Sherman parts ways with Orange Lutheran after five seasons as head football coach

Rod Sherman Concludes Tenure as Head Football Coach at Orange Lutheran

After five seasons leading the football program at Orange Lutheran, Rod Sherman has stepped down from his position as head coach, as announced by the school on Monday. The statement confirmed that "effective today, Rod Sherman has concluded his tenure as head football coach."

Rumors regarding Sherman’s departure surfaced last week following a social media post. However, in a text response at that time, Sherman maintained he was still in charge of the team.

During his tenure, Sherman guided the team to a record of 33 wins and 29 losses, including a notable Southern Section Division 2 championship in 2021. Last season was challenging for the Lancers, concluding with a 3-9 record, which included two forfeit losses. Nonetheless, the Lancers pulled off a significant upset during the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs by defeating the top-seeded St. John Bosco.

Sherman, who previously worked as both an assistant coach and athletic director in the 1990s under head coach Jim Kunau, returned to Orange Lutheran after a stint as a head coach in Colorado. The school has announced plans to begin the search for Sherman’s successor.

Meanwhile, his wife, Kristen, remains listed as the flag football coach at Orange Lutheran, although changes in that position may also be forthcoming. The program will be temporarily overseen by general manager Kyla Laulhere and offensive line coach Chris Ward until a new head coach is appointed.

The competitive landscape of the Trinity League, likened to that of college or NFL football, has elevated expectations for coaches. Failure to achieve top-level results often leads to coaching changes within three to five years, as evidenced by recent adjustments at other teams, including JSerra and Santa Margarita, which saw alumnus Carson Palmer win a Division 1 and state title in his first year.