LA VERNE, CA (JANUARY 24, 2013) Damien High School is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mark Paredes as the Head Football Coach of the Spartans. Coach Paredes comes to Damien from J.W. North High School where he has been coaching since 2010 and where he coached from 1994-2001. From 2001-10, Mark served as Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach at Riverside City College. Prior to his first coaching stint at J.W. North, Coach Paredes worked at Bishop Amat from 1976-94.  He also served as Athletic Director at Amat from 1978-94 and was the Head Football Coach from 1986-94.

At J.W. North, Coach Paredes won CIF Championships in 1995 and 2001 with another appearance in the 1997 CIF finals. In his eight years as Head Football Coach at Bishop Amat, Coach Paredes won eight Angelus and Del Rey League Championships and made two appearances in the CIF Finals, winning a championship in 1992.  In that season Mark distinguished himself as one of the premier high school football coaches taking the Lancers to California's first ever 15-0 season with a victory over Sylmar High School in the Reebok Bowl. He also led the Lancer baseball team to eight consecutive league championships before committing full time to football.

The move back to the Catholic School system fulfills Mark's desire to return home to his coaching roots in the Catholic High School environment. Mark is also a classroom teacher of World and United States History. He is looking forward to meeting and possibly coaching with many of the Damien alumni who have been so supportive of the school over the years.

Coach Paredes is currently interviewing for positions on his coaching staff.