Frank McManus Jr. is new Mater Dei football coach, replacing Bruce Rollinson

The Monarchs hire from within, promoting the team's defensive backs coach to take over over one of the nation's premier high school football programs

Replacing a coaching legend at any level carries a burden. 

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), one of the nation's premier high school football programs, announced its new head coach Thursday in longtime assistant Frank McManus. 

According to the school's football site, McManus has coached 16 seasons in the program, the last seven on the varsity staff in charge of defensive backs. He was the team's assistant defensive coordinator. 

McManus succeeds Bruce Rollinson, who coached 47 seasons (34 as head coach) at Mater Dei, compiling a 339-86-2 record before retiring at the end of the 2022 season. 

Rollinson was in line to win a sixth mythical national championship, but the Monarchs lost in the Southern Section Division I title game to Trinity League rival St. John Bosco 24-22. They were ranked No. 1 in the country at the time. 

It should be a smooth transition to McManus, who has contributed to two national championship teams. 

We are excited to announce the next Head Coach of @materdei_football, Frank McManus, Jr. \|/ pic.twitter.com/ZvFzTerGny

— Mater Dei Football (@MDFootball) February 16, 2023

McManus takes over a program that has gone 130-16 since 2012 and 83-4 over the last seven seasons, winning national and CIF State Open titles in 2017, 2018 and 2021. 

"I am honored and humbled to lead the Mater Dei football program into a bright future for our current, future and legacy Monarch families," McManus said in a release from Mater Dei.  

With one of the nation's top returning quarterbacks — California No. 1 recruit Elijah Brown — and a star-studded offensive line, led by 4-star prospects Brandon Baker and DeAndre Carter — the Monarchs are likely set to be the country's top-ranked team heading into 2024. 

Mater Dei boasts 12 of the state's top 100 recruits from the Class of 2024, according to 247Sports. 

McManus Jr. takes the reins of a program that spent much of Rollinson's final year mired in controversy. 

In November 2021, the family of a Mater Dei player filed a lawsuit against the school and Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, California alleging negligence after a purported hazing incident in the Mater Dei football locker room, according to the OC Register. The school's president, Father Walter Jenkins, resigned in the wake of the lawsuit, citing tensions with Rollinson. 

The incident left the student with a brain injury, a broken nose and concussion, the lawsuit alleged. The family dismissed the lawsuit on Jan. 11, signaling an expected settlement out of court, The L.A. Times reported. Mater Dei hired a law firm to conduct a safety assessment of the athletic department. It was completed in January after 14 months, but details were not disclosed to the public.

Rollinson said in the statement he will be working "side-by-side with Frank" during the coaching transition. 

"I can promise you he will take over with a tenacious work ethic, and he will begin to establish his own legacy," Rollinson said. "The race car is ready, the new driver is behind the wheel and now it's time to go racing, and prepare for our new 2023 season. 

"I am extremely confident in Frank and his abilities to direct this program and develop great young men."