DOWNEY - Warren High School made it official at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon that former Long Beach Poly head coach, Raul Lara, was going to be the Bears' next head football coach. Coach Lara was the head coach at Poly for the last 13 years before he stepped down last December. Lara said he did not expect to be coaching again this soon.

Warren Athletic Director Russ Heicke recently gave Lara a tour of Warren High School. Lara saw the campus, classrooms, stadium and weight room and started to see the potential that Warren had to offer. Lara became more and more interested in the position and decided to accept the challenge.

Warren has struggled in recent years. The Bears were 4-6 in 2010, 1-8-1 in 2011, 0-10 in 2012 and 0-10 in 2013. Warren last won the San Gabriel Valley League title in 2008 and 2009 when standout running back Jesse Callier (Washington) led the Bear offense his junior and senior years.

Lara has put together an impressive resume over the last several years. Lara's overall record stands at 142-30 and 74-2 in Moore League play. The Jackrabbits have won the C.I.F. title five times and are a weekly mainstay on the front page in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's sports section.

Lara will bring with him to the Bear coaching staff Jackrabbits' strength and conditioning coach Gregg Washington, defensive coach Jack Murray and offensive line coach Brent Perez. Lara is still filling out his lower level coaching positions.

Lara and his staff emphasized the weight room as a "sanctuary" for football players and will begin the offseason program on Monday.

Lara, his staff and Warren High School are excited for the 2014 fall football season.

"We are pleased to have Coach Lara work with our students at Warren High School because he is a mentor for students on the field and in the classroom," Warren High principal Laura Rivas said in a statement.

********** Published: Feb. 20, 2014 - Volume 12 - Issue 45