Ted Iacenda has the “interim” tag lifted and is now the head coach of Cougars Football.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – After spending the 2013 football season as the interim head coach of the College of the Canyons football team, Ted Iacenda has been named the permanent leader of the COC football program.

Iacenda became the interim head coach in February after former head coach Garett Tujague took a position as the offensive line assistant coach at Brigham Young University. The decision to hire Iacenda permanently came after a rigorous nationwide search.

“Coach Iacenda brings a passion for excellence that is evident in everything he does. He instills that same passion in his players, and inspires them to achieve excellence on the field and in the classroom,” said College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne Van Hook. “We are pleased to have him as our permanent coach and look forward to an exciting new chapter of Cougar football.”

During Iacenda’s interim season with the Cougars, he led the team to an 8-3 overall record and 5-1 conference record, to win the program’s 11th conference title and the first since 2008. Iacenda’s squad also earned a berth to the California Community College Athletic Association’s Southern California Regional Playoffs, another first since 2008, but eventually lost to state runner-up Fullerton College 56-17.

The newly anointed head coach will begin his permanent position, pending board approval, effective Jan. 22, 2014.

Iacenda joined College of the Canyons after a seven-year stint at Bishop Alemany High School as an assistant head coach under former COC offensive coordinator Dean Herrington. He helped Alemany win league titles in six of his seven seasons, and helped the Warriors achieve a 62-23 record during his stint.

Prior to his appointment at Alemany, Iacenda spent four seasons with College of the Canyons working with the running backs, wide receivers and special teams under then-head coach Chuck Lyon. With the Cougars, he helped the team go 48-4 while claiming four Western State Conference titles, two Southern California Championships and a state and national title in 2004.

Iacenda was a standout football player at Hart High School and helped the squad win a California Interscholastic Federation Division II title in 1995 and was the runner-up in 1994. The highly decorated player attended the University of Southern California and later transferred to the University of New Mexico.

PERSONAL DATA:
Born in Glendale, Calif., on Nov. 8, 1977. Family: wife Courtney and one daughter.

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
College – Interim head coach at College of the Canyons (2013); running backs and wide receivers at Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College (2001); running backs, wide receivers and special teams coach (2002-05). High School – assistant head coach at Bishop Alemany High School (2006-12).

EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s degree in university studies from University of New Mexico in 2000; master’s degree in sports management from United States Sports Academy in 2004.

COLLEGE PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
One-year letterman as a fullback at University of Southern California (1997); two-year letterman as a running back at the University of New Mexico (1999-00).

Year-School (Record, Postseason)
2001-Trinity Valley Community College (4-5)
2002-College of the Canyons (10-2, CCCAA State Championship)
2003-College of the Canyons (11-1, CCCAA Southern California Bowl)
2004-College of the Canyons (14-0, CCCAA State Championship)
2005-College of the Canyons (12-1, CCCAA Southern California Bowl)
2006-Bishop Alemany (4-6)
2007-Bishop Alemany (8-4, Western Division Quarterfinalist)
2008-Bishop Alemany (11-2, Western Division Semifinalist)
2009-Bishop Alemany (10-4, Western Division Finalist)
2010-Bishop Alemany (12-1, Pac-5 Division Semifinalist)
2011-Bishop Alemany (8-3, Pac-5 Playoffs)
2012-Bishop Alemany (9-3, Pac-5 Quarterfinalist)
2013-College of the Canyons (8-3, CCCAA Semi-Final Playoff)
Total: 121-35