The face of Santa Clarita Christian athletics for the last 20 years plans to leave the school this summer.
Garrick Moss, longtime Cardinals football and baseball coach, is taking a position at Legacy Christian Academy in Valencia next year, he confirmed to The Signal on Friday.
Moss will start as assistant head of school at the kindergarten through eighth grade institution in August.
“I’ve done a little bit of everything here,” Moss said of SCCS. “It’s been a crazy ride. This place has been awesome.”
Moss — who graduated from The Master’s University (formerly college) in 1997 and immediately took a physical education position at SCCS — accepted the Legacy job, in part, for a more flexible schedule that would allow him to pursue a master’s degree and eventually travel to watch his son, Jacob, a senior who signed Friday with Morehead State University in Kentucky, play college football.
“That’s always been a goal of mine,” Moss said of the degree.
As SCCS’s athletic director in 1998, Moss started an 8-man football program and became head coach in 2002.
Moss started, and coached, the school’s baseball program in 2000, winning a CIF title four years later.
He added football CIF crowns in 2008 and 2009 and coached the team through its transition to 11-man in 2011.
“Garrick has been a pillar in athletics for 20 years,” said SCCS’s current Athletic Director Ali Aguilar, “and it’s going to be really tough and hard to replace him.”
Moss, though, feels this may in fact be the best time for a transition.
He believes offensive coordinator Chazz Anderson and defensive coordinator Josh Kristoff, both of whom played NCAA Division 1 FBS football, are more than capable of helming the team, which finished 6-6 last year.
Kristoff is also expected to take over the baseball team next year.
“They are young guys who can take this thing to the next level,” Moss said. “Whereas I’m warn out, coaching two sports and working as the school’s activities director.”
That in addition to teaching physical education classes at SCCS and raising four children.
Moss’ second oldest, Kaleigh, a sophomore, plays varsity volleyball, basketball and softball at SCCS.
It’s safe to Kaleigh’s games, though, won’t be the only thing tying Moss to the school next year.
He plans to help out with the football program when he can.
“You can’t replace a coach like that,” Aguilar said, “with the heart he has for the school, for the kids and for the families. So we’re excited for him with his new adventure, and we wish him well. We can’t wait to see the things he’ll do in his new job at Legacy.”
