St. Paul Football Coach Walker Resigns Position After Three Years

Jim Walker, who replaced Marijon Ancich as football coach at St. Paul High School three years ago but was unable to get the Swordsmen into the Southern Section playoffs, resigned his position. A replacement has not been named.

Ancich had coached at St. Paul for 21 years (1961-1981) and led the Swordsmen to a 188-37-6 record, 14 straight playoff appearances and two Southern Section titles before leaving for the Northern Arizona University. He is currently the head coach at Tustin High.

St. Paul compiled a 15-14-1 record under Walker but has not finished among the top three teams in the Angelus League since 1981. Walker, however, did not cite his team’s failure to make the playoffs as a reason for his departure.

“The key factor is my wanting to go to a public school where I can build my own program,” Walker said. “I was dissatisfied with the (St. Paul) athletic program in regards to the direction it was going, and it’s time for me to move on. I think St. Paul needs a new football coach right now.”

Walker will continue to teach health and physical education at the Santa Fe Springs campus until the end of the school year.

Ancich, meanwhile, said Monday that he has not been approached by St. Paul Principal Aidan Carroll about possibly returning to coach the Swordsmen.