Prominent California high school football programs parts ways with head coach

One of California’s most notable high school football programs over the past two decades is on the hunt for a new coach.

Oaks Christian (Calif.) announced on Wednesday that it was ‘mutually parting ways’ with coach Charlie Collins, who was at the helm for eight years. Collins took over in 2018 from then-head coach Jim Benkert. He led the Lions to a 59-34 record across his eight years, but that included a 6-7 finish this season.

“As we conclude the 2025 football season, the Oaks Christian Athletic Administration announces that Head Varsity Football Coach Charlie Collins and the school have mutually agreed to launch the 2026 season under new leadership,” the school wrote in a press release. “We are thankful for Coach Collins’s dedication, commitment, and investment in the program throughout his time at Oaks Christian and we wish him the best with his future pursuits. “

“Oaks Christian is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and identifying exceptional leadership of the school’s football program as we look to further grow our mission of “athletic distinction.” The school is committed to finding the best head coach that will be a strong fit for the school, the student-athletes, and the program. We look forward to opening our search to both local and national candidates.”

Collins, a former NFL wide receivers coach, also mentored Chad Ochocinco and Steve Smith at Santa Monica College in the late 1990s and early 2000s before later stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals.

Oaks Christian looking to return to prominence

The past few seasons marked a significant dropoff for the program, which was once arguably the top high school football factory in California. From 2003 to 2008, Oaks Christian has five straight CIF championships and eight overall under longtime head coach Bill Reddell.

They produced multiple future NFL players, and have continued to do so in recent years with the likes of Kayvon Thibodeaux, Michael Pittman Jr. and Zach Charbonnet. This season’s roster included multiple blue-chip recruits who signed with Oregon and USC, respectively.

But the program was seeing low numbers in its JV and C-team programs, as well as the transfer of highly touted quarterback Trey Towns to Rancho Cucamonga. With Towns at the helm, the Lions finished with 9-4 record and a CIF Southern Section Division II semifinals appearance last fall. They struggled out of the gate this fall though, dropping their opener to Chaminade before a 63-0 rout at the hands of Sierra Canyon.

Towns and Co. responded with a 35-28 win over winless Bakersfield Liberty before he left the team in September.