High School Coach in Investigation Hired at Serra High

A high school football coach asked to leave one school amid an investigation was hired at another school in the same district, prompting questions as to why.

Sergio Diaz is the new football coach at Serra High School in the San Diego Unified School District. He was the head coach at Scripps Ranch High until 2009 until he was told not to return.

Diaz was tied to an investigation into how money, raised by the booster club at Scripps Ranch High, was spent, according to community activist Sally Smith. The audit showed irregularities, including questionable expenses for dinners and alcohol.

โ€œI don't see how they could keep an employee in that position after you read an audit and all the irregularities revealed in that audit,โ€ said Smith.

So why did Diaz get hired someplace else?

According to the new principal at Serra High School, Dr. Vincent Mays, Diaz went through a โ€œrigorous process.โ€

โ€œHe came across earnestly, told the truth, and he learned from his lessons at Scripps Ranch, and we believe a young man like that deserves a second chance,โ€ said Mays.

He said Diaz, who left Scripps Ranch in 2010, has learned to be a better listener and to make better decisions.

โ€œI felt like he understood he shouldn't be managing the money and that he understands we have a booster club treasurer and others,โ€ said Mays. โ€œSo I don't think the management of money will be his issue around Serra High School. The football team and our success in the league will be his total focus.โ€

The audit of Serra Highโ€™s booster club also showed irregularities. Mays said the club has a new president and a new treasurer and will be functioning under the auspices of the schoolโ€™s foundation.

With regard to the money, Mays said, โ€œIt will be closely watched.โ€
 

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