Lucas Mealy named new La Mirada football coach
New Head Football Coach, Lucas Mealy, at La Mirada High School on Wednesday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
LA MIRADA – After a month-long search, La Mirada High School has named former Orange High assistant coach Lucas Mealy as its new football coach.
“We want to establish a brand and platform for these young men,” Mealy said. “We want to make sure that they know how we’re going to do things moving forward and what they’re going to get out of myself and the rest of the coaching staff. We also want to show the community how we’re going to do things in the long run.
“It’s going to take a lot of work and these young men I think are up to the task. Our ultimate goal from a football standpoint is to win. Those core principals are going to carry us over to where we want to be.
“We have a lot of things moving forward and we’re going to try and get things rolling as fast as we can.”
Mealy replaces former coach Mike Moschetti and hopes to bring the Matadores back into prominence for one of the area’s top programs.
La Mirada athletic director Christine Mead said of the hiring, “Coach Mealy is ready to get started and is excited to begin Spring ball,” Mead said. “I believe he will bring great things to La Mirada. He has amazing energy and is so excited to bring his knowledge and passion to this program. We are looking for great things from coach Mealy and his staff.”
Mealy, who was formally hired last Friday (April 21) and takes a head job for the first time, has also done stints at Cerritos College and St. John Bosco. He has been coaching for 11 yrs. While at Orange, they went 19-7 with two league championships and CIF appearances.
Prior to the two years at Orange, Mealy was the quarterbacks coach at Fountain Valley during the shortened COVID Spring of 2021.
Before Fountain Valley, he was on the coaching staff for St. John Bosco as wide receiver and tight ends coach for six years. Mixed in that period for one year in 2016, Mealy was the tight ends coach at Cerritos College.
Mealy, who graduated from St. John Bosco in 2009, was an All-Trinity League player for three years as a tight end and wide receiver.
He started his college years at Cerritos College in 2009 and was an All-Conference tight end. He was part of a conference champion, won post-season bowl game and finished his two years with 61 receptions for 798 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He transferred to Adams State University in Colorado and was the starting tight end for two years.
He graduated from Adams State, majoring in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Sports Management.
“We want to make sure the kids understand the philosophies that we’re going to implement in the day-to-day strategies on how we’re going to go about things,” Mealy added. “We want the kids to make sure that at the end of the day, it’s about them and not about me. We want to make sure they are ready to play on Friday nights.”
Unfortunately, Mealy will not get to have a real home game yet, as the new stadium appears not to be ready.
With the team on the “road” for the last four years playing home games at Excelsior, Mealy will have to wait until the 2024 season for the new digs.
“I think it’s a very exciting situation,” said Mealy, of the new stadium. “The first year (2023) I don’t believe we’ll have it. But, in the long run having a place to play our home games at, having a place for our kids to call home, I think is great for the young men.
“It’s great for the community. I know this community is super involved and super excited about everything.”