If high school football dynasties were chessboards, Mater Dei High School would have long been a king commanding the gridiron. But even monarchs need new generals when the tides shift. The team with the title of Monarchs, decision to hire a new head coach Raul Lara with immediate effect mid-season marks a new chapter—one led by a man who’s already synonymous with California high school football greatness.

Enter Raul Lara, a Long Beach legend who’s as comfortable under the Friday night lights as most of us are in our living rooms. A former player for Long Beach Polytechnic, under Jim Barnett, Lara’s rise to coaching greatness began at his alma mater. Over 13 illustrious years at Long Beach Poly, Lara turned the Jackrabbits into a football juggernaut, claiming five CIF championships and amassing a jaw-dropping 142-30 record. His accolades include being named CIF Southern Section Division I Coach of the Year five times. “Lara’s resume speaks for itself,” Mater Dei’s President Michael Brennan said, emphasizing the program’s excitement about the hire.

Lara’s success isn’t just about trophies—it’s about building athletes who thrive both on and off the field. His stints at Warren, Servite, and most recently, St. Anthony High School in Long Beach, reflect a career-long dedication to player development. Many of his former players have gone on to shine at the collegiate and professional levels, a testament to his coaching philosophy: nurture talent, instill discipline, and push boundaries. The Mater Dei HC’s many of his former players advanced to collegiate and professional levels.

His arrival at Mater Dei isn’t without its nuances. The Monarchs’ previous head coach, Frank McManus, guided the program to Division 1 and state Open Division titles last year before being abruptly dismissed. Before that, Bruce Rollinson’s tenure, which began in 1989, ended under the cloud of an alleged hazing controversy. The Lara hire marks a clean break from the Rollinson era, signaling a fresh start for a program determined to remain atop the high school football mountain.

Still, the timing of Lara’s announcement sparked some chatter. Long pegged as the favorite to take the reins, the delay in confirming his role raised questions about the Monarchs’ direction. However, with spring football looming, Raul Lara is ready to hit the ground running—bringing in his staff and putting his stamp on the program “I am excited and honored to accept the position of Head Football Coach at Mater Dei High School,” Lara said, underscoring his readiness to lead. And boy he did lead!

Coach Lara leads Mater Dei to their 14 championship, his 12

Mater Dei High School’s football team has done it again, cementing their place atop the high school football world. The Monarchs edged out St. John Bosco, 31-24, in a nail-biting CIF Division 1 championship game Friday night at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, in front of a spirited crowd of 7,407 fans. It was the kind of high-stakes matchup that high school football dreams are made of, and Mater Dei delivered—again.

Legendary coach Raul Lara added yet another feather to his already-crowded cap. The six-time CIF Division 1 MVP Coach of the Year snagged his 12th CIF championship overall—six as a head coach and six as an assistant. His trophy haul began at Long Beach Poly, where he guided the Jackrabbits to five CIF titles before continuing his reign of dominance with Mater Dei.

For the Monarchs, this latest title is the program’s 14th championship—a staggering achievement. Mater Dei has become a fixture in the finals, making it to the championship game in eight of the last ten seasons.

A fitting end of the season for the undisputed monarchs of Southern Cali high school football, and a fitting end for their legend head coach as well.