End of an era: Mater Dei football coach Bruce Rollinson to retire after this season
Mater Dei football coach Bruce Rollinson announced Thursday night that this will be his final season leading the Monarchs, a surprising change after stating last month that he would return for 2023.
Rollinson announced via the Mater Dei football Twitter account that he recently made the decision, which arrived on the eve of his team beginning the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs against JSerra on Friday at Santa Ana Stadium.
“After playing at Mater Dei more than 50 years ago, 47 years coaching at Mater Dei and 34 years as the head coach, making this decision at this time with the entire starting lineup returning next year, should make it easier for the next coach and Mater Dei to continue with our winning tradition,” he stated in the tweet.
Head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs celebrates players after defeating the Serra Padres 44-7 during a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson leads the team to enter before a Trinity League game against St. John Bosco at Santa Ana Stadium in Santa Ana on Saturday, April 17, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs prior to a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game between the Mater Dei Monarchs and the Serra Padres at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Bruce Rollinson is leading Mater Dei’s football team into a CIF championship game for the 15th time in his tenure. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson gives instructions during a Trinity League game earlier this season. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Mater Die coach John Rollinson watches his team take the field for their game against St. John Bosco in Santa Ana on Friday, October 7, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs talks to James Johnson #16 of Mater Dei Monarchs prior to a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game between the Mater Dei Monarchs and the Serra Padres at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs against the Serra Padres during a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs reacts after touchdown against the Serra Padres in the first half of a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs blows a kiss to someone in the stands prior to a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game between the Mater Dei Monarchs and the Serra Padres at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs prior to a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game between the Mater Dei Monarchs and the Serra Padres at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A sign saying that head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs is the greatest of all time in the first half of a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game between the Mater Dei Monarchs and the Serra Padres at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs with his grandson after defeating the Serra Padres 44-7 during a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs is hoisted on the shoulders of his players after defeating the Serra Padres 44-7 during a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson gives the thumbs up to the fans before a game in 1996 against Long Beach Poly at the Santa Ana Bowl. (File photo: Kenneth Steinhardt/For The Register)
Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson walks around in the end zone with his players before a Trinity League football game at Santa Ana Stadium in Santa Ana on Friday, October 14, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs against the Serra Padres during a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson holds up the CIF-SS Division 1 football championship plaque after his team defeated Servite in Long Beach on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson on the field with his players before a Trinity League football game at Santa Ana Stadium in Santa Ana on Friday, October 14, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Sisa Uiagalelei, center, takes a selfie with her son, Ta’ita’a Uiagalelei and Mater Dei Head Football Coach Bruce Rollinson after Uiagalelei signed a national letter of intent to play football at the University of Arizona during National Signing Day at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Laurie Rollinson, Bruce Rollinson and Geri Campeau (from left to right) attend We Are Sāmoa Diamond Gala at Fete The Venue on March 26, 2022 in Costa Mesa, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Mater Dei Head Football Coach Bruce Rollinson speaks about his eight football players prior to them signing their letters of intent during National Signing Day at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Bruce Rollinson, right, head football coach at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, speaks about his players before they signed their National Letters of Intent during signing day event at the school on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Servite coach Troy Thomas, left, and Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson know each other well from their years of coaching in the Trinity League. Their teams meet in the CIF-SS Division 1 championship game Friday night. Thomas shows off the CIF-SS championship ring he won as a player at Crespi. (Photo by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson, right, and St. John Bosco head coach Jason Negro shakes hands after a Trinity League game at St. John Bosco in Bellflower on Friday,October 1, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei football coach Bruce Rollinson has tried to keep the the Monarchs ready although they have played only two games over the first four weeks of the season. (SCNG file photo)
Bruce Rollinson’s Emmy Award arrived at his Mater Dei office on Thursday. (Photo courtesy Mater Dei High School)
Mater Dei football coach Bruce Rollinson, shown talking to star quarterback Bryce Young after the CIF-SS Division 1 final Saturday night, said a 39-34 loss to St. John Bosco “hurts deep” because of the character of his team. (File photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro, left, and Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson bring their teams together again for a big game Saturday at Santa ana Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer).
Mater Dei Monarchs head coach Bruce Rollinson reacts before his team takes the filed prior to the start of the 2019 CIF Southern Section Division 1 High School Football Championship game at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif. on Saturday November 30, 2019. St. John Bosco Braves defeated the Mater Dei Monarchs 39-34. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson is trying to make sure his team will be ready for the 2020 season despite
the challenges created by the COVID-19 coronavirus. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s head coach Bruce Rollinson talks with his players before the start of the game in Bellflower on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)
Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson and running back Shakobe Harper give each other a hug as they celebrate winning the CIF State Open Division championship over De La Salle in Norwalk on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson holds the CIF State Open Division championship trophy high as he celebrates with his players in Norwalk on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei football coach Bruce Rollinson might hoist a fourth state championship trophy if the Monarchs defeat Serra/San Mateo on Saturday at Saddleback College. (OC Register file photo)
Mater Dei Monarchs head coach Bruce Rollinson holds up the championship placard at the end of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championship football game at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif. on Friday November 23, 2018. Mater Dei beat St. John Bosco 17-13. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei Monarchs head coach Bruce Rollinson is doused with water by one of his players during the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championship football game against the St. John Bosco Braves at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif. on Friday November 23, 2018. Mater Dei beat St. John Bosco 17-13. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson congratulates his quarterback JT Daniels after Daniels sprinted for a touchdown against Mission Viejo in the semifinals of the Division 1 football playoffs in Mission Viejo on Friday, November 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson, center right, is a finalist for U.S. Army coach of the year. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mater Dei head football coach Bruce Rollinson holds the CIF-SS Division 1 championship plaque in Santa Ana on Thursday, December 7, 2017. Rollinson will be leading his Monarchs in the quest for their first state title. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson, right, holds aloft the CIF Division I plaque as he celebrates with players Brain Manibusan, left, and wide receiver Rod Perry after their victory over Loyola at the Coliseum in 1996. (File photo: Eugene Garcia / For the Register)
“During the months after the season, I am blessed to be able to assist closely in the effort to select the incoming new head coach. And in the future, I am committed to supporting the program in any way that I can.
“Thank you to Mater Dei and thank you to the players, coaches, parents, administrators, and students for giving me an opportunity of a lifetime. I feel a tremendous debt of gratitude to Mater Dei and to so many others over these past 47 years.”
Rollinson, 73, concluded his tweet by saying: “In the meantime, let’s play football. Go Monarchs!” and added what has been his catchphrase, “Rock & Roll, Baby!”
Rollinson’s coaching future has been under intense scrutiny since late last season when allegations of hazing in the Mater Dei football program surfaced in a lawsuit filed just before the CIF-SS Division 1 championship against Servite. The incident was investigated by Santa Ana police but charges weren’t filed.
Rollinson pressed forward. He didn’t miss a game even as additional concerns about the conduct of his players came to light.
There were videos showing Mater Dei football players acting out simulated sex acts on other players. There was a report about a Mater Dei basketball player who was allegedly beaten by two Mater Dei football players during an off-campus event in 2019.
The private Catholic school also began an assessment of it athletics program by a Sacramento law firm. The Diocese of Orange stated Thursday that the review remains in progress.
Rollinson stated on Oct. 3, a few days before the Monarchs’ Trinity League showdown against rival St. John Bosco, that he was “pretty confident” that he would return next season “barring any health setbacks.”
Rollinson didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment Thursday night.
Mater Dei president Michael Brennan was asked by The Register on Oct. 4 to comment on Rollinson’s plans and responded that the school was “thrilled to know that the ‘Coach Rollinson Era’ will continue again next season at Mater Dei High School.”
On Thursday, the Diocese of Orange thanked Rollinson for his “decades of service.”
“The Diocese of Orange is grateful for the decades of service Bruce Rollinson has made on the field as a renowned football coach at Mater Dei High School, and for his off-the-field contributions as a man of Catholic faith who guided generations of student-athletes as a mentor, teacher and community leader,” Diocese of Orange spokesperson Jarryd Gonzales wrote in an email.
St. John Bosco football coach Jason Negro, a friendly rival of Rollinson, said he was caught off guard by the announcement.
“I was completely surprised by Bruce’s decision,” Negro said in a text message. “I think it’s more about the timing. Bruce and I have talked quite a bit throughout this season and he’s never even remotely hinted this might be it for him.
“I figured he’d keep rolling.”
JSerra coach Scott McKnight also was surprised. He said Rollinson wished him well this week after he sustained a severe concussion before JSerra’s game last week against Santa Margarita.
“I am surprised by the announcement after he previously stated he would coach in 2023,” McKnight said in a text message.
A few of Rollinson’s well-known former players expressed their appreciation for their coach on social media.
“An absolute legend,” former star quarterback Matt Barkley said. “He shaped boys into men.”
In Mater Dei’s last regular-season game on Oct. 28, Rollinson became Orange County’s all-time leader in coaching victories, according to the O.C. Football Book. He notched his 339th win by defeating Servite, passing Bob Johnson, who coached at Los Amigos, El Toro and Mission Viejo.
Rollinson played at Mater Dei and USC. He has led the Monarchs to eight CIF-SS championships, four state titles and five national crowns.
Mater Dei (10-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps, rides a 27-game winning streak into the quarterfinals Friday. The streak is tied for the longest in school history.
