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Pat Harlow was promoted to head coach of JSerra's football team on Thursday.
Pat Harlow was promoted to head coach of JSerra’s football team on Thursday.

Pat Harlow was named football coach at JSerra on Thursday.

Harlow, 47, a former USC and NFL offensive lineman, spent the past three years as an assistant coach at JSerra. He coached the offensive linemen for JSerra and previously was an assistant coach at San Clemente and a head coach at Flagstaff High in Arizona.

He replaces Jim Hartigan, who left the JSerra last month after the team’s loss in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. Hartigan coached JSerra for 10 seasons.

Harlow said that when JSerra’s season ended he was not pursuing a head coaching position.

“But when Jim stepped away, there was a void that needed to be filled,” Harlow said. “I feel very attached to the kids in this program. I want to give them continuity and stability, so it was time for me to step up and apply for the job.”

JSerra athletic director Chris Ledyard said Harlow’s familiarity with the school and its football program were among the factors in Harlow’s promotion.

“Pat brings a wealth of wisdom and experience,” Ledyard said, “plus he’s aware of JSerra and its direction. We couldn’t find somebody outside of JSerra who could be a better choice.”

JSerra this season finished 5-6 overall and 1-4 in the Trinity League. The Lions finished sixth in the final Orange County Register top 25.

Harlow said he hopes to retain as much of the JSerra coaching staff as possible. It is a staff with much experience in Orange County high school football, including offensive coordinator Sergio Muniz, secondary and special teams coach Scott McKnight and defensive coordinator Jeff Veeder.

“They’re all really good coaches,” said Harlow, who has a son, who is a sophomore, in the JSerra football program. “The most important thing in this business is good relationships with the kids and the parents, and all of our coaches have that.”

Harlow was an outstanding offensive tackle at USC, where in 1990 he won the Morris Trophy as the Pac-10’s top offensive lineman. He was a first-round draft pick in the NFL, and started 94 games over an eight-year career with New England and Oakland.