HS FOOT: Eberhart named head coach at Glendale

Alan Eberhart, a former long-time coach at Crescenta Valley before stepping down in 2006, has been named head coach at Glendale, his alma mater.

"This kind of gets me back in the game, and I'm happy about it. I missed it," said Eberhart, 52. "I missed the games, and I missed the times with the kids and the practices."

Eberhart replaces Rafik Thorossian, whom Eberhart said left by mutual agreement.

"Rafik was a walk-on coach, and I think he wanted to do other things," Eberhart said.

Eberhart is bringing in defensive coordinator Bill Irace, who held the same position under Eberhart at Crescenta Valley. Irace replaces defensive coordinator Jerry Chou, the former Eagle Rock head coach who joined the staff last season and helped Glendale improve from 1-8-1 in 2007 to 6-4 last season.

Eberhart met the team for the first time today.

"I'm really just getting started, and I think we've got enough kids coming back that we'll be OK," Eberhart said. "I'm trying to give the program some continuity. I think I'm the ninth or 10th coach at Glendale in 15 years."

Eberhart was 89-58-1 with five league titles during his 14 seasons at Crescenta Valley.

-- Gerry Gittelson