Esperanza football coach Kevin Oberlander, who was hired in February, has resigned for personal reasons, he said Wednesday.
Oberlander replaced Gary Bowers, who resigned after the 2015 season, his third as the Aztecs coach.
The team’s defensive coordinator, Thomas Storing, has been promoted to head coach, Athletic Director Matt Slevcove said.
The Aztecs are on the verge of starting practice for the 2016 season and less than a month away from playing their first game, against Irvine on Sept. 2.
Esperanza announced Oberlander’s hiring on Feb. 12, noting his accomplishments as the coach at Western Christian of Upland from 2011-2014. Western Christian reached the CIF-SS East Valley semifinals in 2013. Oberlander was an assistant coach at Whittier Christian in 2008 and ’09.
“I was very surprised when the principal (Ken Fox) called me with (the news of Oberlander’s resignation),” said Slevcove, who was attending a teaching conference Wednesday.
This is the second time since 2014 that Oberlander has left a county team before coaching a game.
He was hired as Marina’s coach in January 2014, but two weeks later he left the program and returned to Western Christian. Oberlander said his agreement with Marina fell apart because a problem arose regarding his lack of a teaching credential at that time.
Oberlander said Wednesday he will continue to work in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
Esperanza finished 1-9 overall last season, including two forfeit losses. The Aztecs have a proud football tradition that includes three CIF-SS championships and 34 playoff appearances.
For this season, Esperanza was placed in Division 9 for the CIF-SS playoffs.
