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 Andrew Lapic is the new Century football coach.
Andrew Lapic is the new Century football coach.
Tim Burt. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 31, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Century’s new football coach, Andrew Lapic, is looking to help the Centurions take the next step.

Lapic, 39, takes over for Ted Crego, who resigned after five seasons. Century was 7-3 overall and fourth in the Orange League last year, just missing the playoffs.

“I’m excited, I’m good friends with coach Crego and I’m excited to be continuing what he’s been building the past few years,” Lapic said Wednesday.

Lapic already has established priorities for theprogram.

“The biggest need is making sure that the athletes are student athletes and that they are students first and we’re building character in the students,” he said. “As far as on the field, we would like to improve on what we did last year and make it into the CIF playoffs.”

Crego will continue on the staff with the line and as an adviser. Danny Pueblos, an assistant for four years, will be the new defensive coordinator. Kyle Mann will be another other assistant.

Lapic was raised in Northern California where he played high school football. He then moved to Orange County to attend Cal State Fullerton where he earned his teaching credential.

He is now in his 10th year of teaching in Santa Ana. He began coaching at Segerstrom nine years ago, starting as the defensive coach on the freshman team. Lapic became the defensive back/receivers coach for the varsity team.

Lapic has been defensive coordinator at Century the past three years. He will teach math at Century this year. He and his wife of 15 years, Julie, have a 2-year-old daughter.

Lapic is looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s going to take us developing a strong line,” Lapic said. “I believe we have the skilled positions. It’s putting all the steps together and really being bigger and stronger and being able to compete with some of the bigger teams in our league.”

Lapic, who resides in Orange, is also emphasizing what he calls the “three C’s.”

“Character, commitment and competition,” he said. “We really want to emphasize being ambassadors to the school, having a great work ethic and being committed to something and using competition to have a great time, whether it’s in practice or in competitive situations.”

“We have our best running back (Jesse Carrasco) coming back and probably our best lineman (Mark Zamora) coming back. “

The squad begins fall camp on Aug. 14.

Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com