John Regalia steps down as St. Ignatius’ head football coach

John Regalia has stepped down as St. Ignatius’ football coach, the school announced Thursday.

The 1993 St. Ignatius graduate spent 25 years coaching football at his alma mater, the past 12 as its head coach.

Last season, Regalia led the San Francisco school to the Central Coast Section Division II final, losing a tight game to Bellarmine.

A decade earlier, on that same San Jose City College field, Regalia’s team beat Bellarmine in overtime for the CCS Open Division title.

Under Regalia, St. Ignatius advanced to the CCS playoffs nine times, reached five finals and won two titles. He also led SI to a West Catholic Athletic League championship and one NorCal Division I regional appearance.

But the release noted that Regalia’s mission statement was never about on-field success.

“He believes in creating a competitive program culture that develops the young people in the program,” the release stated. “The byproduct of that development, fully supporting the coaches and making a commitment to the processes of preparation, are victories on the field.”

Among current WCAL head football coaches, only Valley Christian’s Mike Machado and Serra’s Patrick Walsh have logged more seasons in their respective roles than Regalia.

Outside the locker room after the CCS final in November, Regalia put the season into perspective.

“We knew it was going to be a four-quarter game and it was,” he said. “Really proud of our kids. All season long they’ve really worked — and it sounds cliche — but really worked at staying week to week in the moment.

“We’ve seen so much growth, tremendous growth out of them in so many different ways as athletes, as football players, team members, young men. That’s because they’ve really listened to and embraced that approach, just stay in the moment, keep working, keep building.”

St. Ignatius College Prep head football coach, John Regalia ’93 announced Thursday afternoon that he is
stepping back from his head football coach position. The Athletic Department will begin the search for the next head football coach at SI immediately. pic.twitter.com/Yur0ucUMWr

— SI Scores (@SIscores) January 20, 2023

SI Athletic Director John Mulkerrins said about Regalia in a statement, “In his time as a coach, young men and women on and off the field experienced a true mentor-teacher-coach. He taught his players the values of  commitment, the benefits of hard work, and love of football.”

Regalia will continue to teach math at the school and support the new coach, staff and players, the release stated.