Dillow resigns as California football coach
If the California High School football team is going to make the WPIAL playoffs for a fourth straight year, it will do it with a new head coach.
On Thursday night, the California school board accepted the resignation of Darrin Dillow, who stepped down after four years as the program’s head coach.
“The last two years have been really hard for me as I have lost my father, my mother and sister,” Dillow said. “It is time for me to spend more time with my family.”
After the meeting, athletic director Chris Minerd said he hopes to hire a new coach soon.
“I would like to have a new head coach in place at the next school board meeting, which takes place on May 15,” he said. “I am confident we will have several potential coaches apply.”
Dillow led the Trojans to a 26-18 record over his four seasons and went 20-9 in Tri-County South Conference games.
“The three seasons before I took over, the team went 6-23 and my last three years, we were 24-6,” Dillow said. “I also wanted to leave a team to someone who would be successful and now is a good time to do this.
“There are 12 seniors on this year’s team, 11 returning starters and 15 returning letter winners. I wanted someone to come in and have the tools to win right away.”
After going 2-7 overall and 2-6 in the Tri-Country South Conference during Dillow’s first year in 2015, the Trojans made significant strides, including making the playoffs the past three seasons.
In 2016, the team finished with a winning record at 6-5 and went 5-2 in the conference.
A year later, the Trojans were 12-1, 7-0 in the conference, and steamrolled teams by an average score of 50-10 en route to the Tri-County South Conference crown. California was the top scoring team in the WPIAL and had the third best scoring defense behind WPIAL Class 3A runner-up Aliquippa (3.4 PPG) and WPIAL Class 4A champion Thomas Jefferson (6.9 PPG).
The top seed in the WPIAL Class A playoffs that year, the Trojans were knocked off by Imani Christian, 30-24.
This past season, California shared the Tri-County South title with Monessen and West Greene at 6-1.
“Four years ago, I was hired and I set my long-term goals for the program,” Dillow said. “The only one not accomplished was winning a WPIAL championship.
“I already miss the kids and coaching but wish them the very best.”
California will open the 2019 season at Beth-Center in Week Zero.