Gene Parsons, a former player and a long-time teacher and coach at El Rancho High School, has been named the Dons’ football coach.

Parsons replaces Willie Reyna, who resigned after El Rancho suffered its first winless season last fall.

Parsons played quarterback and wide receiver for El Rancho legendary football coach Ernie Johnson and was a member of the Dons team that lost to Loyola, 21-0, in the 1963 CIF championship game played at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

This is Parsons’ first head coaching job at the varsity level, although he was a head coach for the school’s freshman and junior varsity programs. He also served as a varsity assistant under Dick Shelko and Reyna.