Football: Official relase from Village Christian on new coach Jay Schroeder

VCS Hires former NFL Quarterback Jay Schroeder as Director of Football

Village Christian Schools announces the hiring of Jay Schroeder, former Raiders and Redskins quarterback, as the new Director of Football Operations. Schroeder is leaving his position as assistant athletic director at powerhouse Oaks Christian in Westlake to assume his new duties beginning in January.

Schroeder is poised to help VCS return to the CIF championship game which they won in 2003, and missed out on by only one point in overtime this year in the semi-final match

As the Director of Football Operations, he will head the varsity team, and also have coaching duties and leadership responsibility of the junior varsity and middle school football programs.

According to Head of Schools Tom Konjoyan, VCS received over 75 applications for this position, but had honed in on Schroeder from the start.

"Jay is a leader of great Christian character who will not only build a great football program, but also will develop the character of our student athletes," said Konjoyan.

The official announcement was made first to the football players who were asked to meet in the high school teachers' lounge last Thursday for an announcement.

"I want to build you up to be great young men," Schroeder said to the assembled team, "My job is to push you to be the best possible athlete and person you can be, and for you to be a success. I am going to ask you to work hard, have fun, and win."

Schroeder takes over for Jeff Cortez who led VCS into the semi-finals of this year's CIF playoffs, upsetting top-seeded Azusa High School and toppling Rosemead High School before losing to Whittier Christian by only one point in overtime. Cortez submitted his resignation last spring, but stayed with VCS until the end of this season. He leaves to join his family who moved to Tennessee last spring.

Background
One would never guess by his charming, easygoing nature that Schroeder was a quarterback in the NFL for eleven incredible years before retiring in 1994. He started only one college game at UCLA in 1980 before he was chosen in the 3rd round of the NFL draft in 1984 by the Washington Redskins. His first NFL game experience came in 1985 when starting quarterback Joe Theisman's leg was brutally broken during a game against the New York Giants. Schroeder finished the year as the starter and the next year he passed for over 4,000 yards enroute to the Pro Bowl. Jay started 10 league games for the 1987 Super Bowl Champion Redskins.
In 1988, the Redskins traded Schroeder to the Los Angeles Raiders with whom he played for 5 years. During those years he had many exciting games including a dramatic overtime win in Denver after trailing 24-0 at halftime, and a career-high four touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings. In 1993, he played for the Cincinnati Bengals and then the Arizona Cardinals in 1994. Schroeder finished his career with over 20,000 yards passing, over 100 touchdown passes and a .648 winning percentage.
He retired from football in 1995 and began coaching at Snow Canyon High School as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He has also worked as analyst for Sky Sports NFL coverage.