Here’s a copy of the press release
DIAMOND BAR, CA–Principal Denis Paul has announced that Diamond Bar
High
School will be opening up its head football coaching position for
2007.
Head Coach Nick Cuccia will not be returning to the position next
season.
Mr. Cuccia has been the coach of the Brahmas for the past two seasons.
Diamond Bar High School appreciates Mr. Cuccia’s dedication and
commitment
to our program. Coach Cuccia is known for his hard work and
integrity as a
coach at DBHS.
I spoke to coach Cuccia and here’s some of what he said …
“I want the truth out that I was fired and that I didn’t quit on these kids. I accept the decision and the fact the principal can make the decision when he wants to. I am extremely disappointed I won’t get to coach the team that I’ve been working hard to put together.”
Cuccia went on to say he wasn’t told the reason why for his dismissal other than that they school wanted to go in a new direction. He did say the school told him it was not because of his team’s records the past two seasons.
According to Cuccia, he is the shortest tenured coach in the history of DBHS since it opened in 1982. He was asked by the current principal to return to the program in 2003 because he didn’t like the direction it was going. Cuccia replaced Manny Saiz after the 2004 season and was 5-14-1 in two seasons. The Brahmas won just one Sierra League in his two seasons.
Aram’s thoughts: From what I understand, the team has been told there will be a replacement named by the first of the year. It’s quite obvious Diamond Bar had a replacement in mind when it fired Cuccia. Yes, the job is open, but you can bet the school has its choice already made. Is it John Monger? Is it Jerry Person? I’m just guessing. But where the guessing stops is with you. I’ll bet that somebody reading this blog knows the answer and can clue us in.
Most people will take one look at Cuccia’s record and say the school was justified. But the time to judge Cuccia would’ve been over the next two seasons. That program was in shambles when Saiz left. Cuccia needed to work thru two classes of players before anyone could really tell whether things were starting to turn around. I can’t wait to see who the Brahmas hire as the program continues its fall from grace.
