Hart High School has announced the hiring of Tony Uebelhardt as the head coach of its new lacrosse program. Hart High School is the third high school in the Hart School District to add lacrosse as a financially self-sustaining interscholastic sport, following West Ranch and Valencia high schools. Hart High School was approved for this sport earlier this year with the planned start in the 2014-15 school year.

Uebelhardt is currently employed by the District as a campus supervisor and varsity assistant football coach at Hart High School. He has been coaching high school athletics, including football, basketball and baseball for 12 years and was named coach of the year for the Heritage League in 2009.

“I am very excited about our first season of lacrosse at Hart,” Hart principal Dr. Collyn Nielsen said.  “This is another opportunity to get more students connected and involved with their school.  Coach Uebelhardt is a tremendous find for us; he is going to do an outstanding job.”

Dr. Nielsen added that Uebelhardt is very knowledgeable, has outstanding coaching skills and is a positive motivator of student athletes.

Strong interest is expected and plans are in place to field a junior varsity and varsity squad this year, with hopes to continue expansion. A girls’ team is not currently planned, however, girls are eligible to try-out and play on the teams. Tryouts are planned for late October and early November.

The sport of youth and club lacrosse has roots extending nearly a decade in Santa Clarita with now more than 300 participants. “All high schools in the Hart District are eligible to offer a lacrosse program in the future assuming that our new sport and self-funded guidelines are met,” Greg Lee, director of human resources and equity services, said. “We anticipate having a lacrosse Foothill League in the coming years as more high schools choose to add this sport.”

For more information on Hart High School lacrosse, please contact: John Turner, Hart High School assistant principal and athletic administrator, at jturner@hartdistrict.org or 661.259.7575 or Coach Uebelhardt at tonyuebelhardt@yahoo.com or 818.554.5450.