Conner new Bloomington coach

Tom Conner has been selected to replace Don Markham as the new Bloomington football coach.

Markham resigned after the season to become the athletic director and football coach at American Sports University in San Bernardino.

"They're big shoes to fill," said Conner, a counselor at Bloomington. "I don't think I can even be mentioned in the same breath as coaches like Don Markham and (Kaiser coach) Dick Bruich."

Markham is a legend in California prep coaching, having won five section titles. His 1994 Bloomington team set a then-national scoring record of 880 points en route to a 14-0 record and a section title.

Conner, 33, has been at Bloomington for four years. He has been an assistant on the freshman level and has previously served as an assistant at Compton Centennial and San Diego Montgomery.

He was also an all-section cornerback at Montgomery, who later played at Southwest Community College in San Diego and Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas.

"We know him and the kids know him," Bloomington athletic director Ron Taylor said. "He's very knowledgable about football. He's innovative and he has some good ideas. I think he's what we need to revitalize the program. He's enthusiastic and a real go-getter."

Conner said he plans to run the spread offense, a departure from the ground-oriented double-wing that Markham favored.

Bloomington has been a top team for years in the Sunkist League, but has struggled against perennial league powerhouse Kaiser and its own legendary coach, Bruich.

"Coach Bruich over at Kaiser has the formula for success, but hopefully with the talent we have we'll be able to compete at a high level," Conner said.

A Victorville resident, Conner said he plans to move soon with his wife (Rachael) and sons Brandon, 4, and Sean, 2, to the Fontana area.