Stahlhut Resigns as Anaheim Coach

Roger Stahlhut, Anaheim High School football coach, resigned Tuesday, just a month after he guided the Colonists to the Southern Section Central Conference semifinals.

“The temptation is there to stay, because there’s a good group of kids coming back, but I knew before the season started that this would be my last,” Stahlhut, 42, said.

“I didn’t have the energy to put in the hours I needed to be successful. It’s time for someone else with more youth and vigor to run the program for a while.”

Stahlhut, who graduated from Anaheim in 1962, has been a Colonist coach for 20 years. He began in 1967 as an offensive line coach under Clare VanHoorebeke and served as an assistant under Bob Salerno before becoming head coach in 1977.

Anaheim made the playoffs six times during Stahlhut’s 10 years as head coach, compiling a record of 52-53-3. Anaheim was 8-5 in 1986 and won two playoff games before losing to Bolsa Grande, 19-3, in the semifinals.

Stahlhut will continue to teach physical education at the school, but said he is not sure whether he will remain in coaching.

“I’m just planning to take some time off and invest some time in my family,” he said. “I want to take a breath of fresh air and see what else is in store for me.”