Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

Santa Margarita football coach Carson Palmer is progressing on assembling a coaching staff at his alma mater.

The Heisman Trophy winner from USC and former NFL All-Pro quarterback, who was hired as Santa Margarita’s new coach on Dec. 12, has added two coaches at key positions and made headway on officially welcoming a third.

Todd Norman has been hired as the football program’s strength coach, Steve Fifita has been named defensive coordinator and Lenny Vandermade is “in the process” of being hired, Santa Margarita communications director Amanda Coronado stated this week.

“Lenny Vandermade’s hiring is in the process of being finalized,” Coronado stated in an email.

Fifita served as Santa Margarita’s interim coach for the final seven games last season after coach Anthony Rouzier was placed on administrative leave.

In late October, the school announced an investigation into “concerning incidents” within the football program. Attorneys for a sophomore later filed a lawsuit against Santa Margarita and the Diocese of Orange alleging he was sexually assaulted by his Santa Margarita teammates.

Fifita was the defensive coordinator before ascending to interim head coach.

Norman is a veteran strength coach.

Vandermade coached St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco the past two seasons. The school won the Central Coast Section Open Division championship last fall.

Vandermade, a former standout lineman at Mater Dei, played with Palmer at USC. He has served as an offensive coordinator at Santa Margarita before. He also has coached at USC.

Please send football news to Dan Albano to [email protected] or @ocvarsityguy on X and Instagram

Related Articles