Lassen Principal Fires Coach
April 2nd, 1975
If Lassen High School principal Mike King has his way, the Grizzlies will have a new varsity football coach next season.
“I am making a recommendation for a football coaching staff that, in effect, is different from the past,” King said from his home Monday night.
The ‘change’ is to fire coach Bob Levada who has been Varsity football coach for the last five seasons.
During that period, the 51-year-old coach guided Lassen to a 25-17-2 record, including a 6-1-2 mark last season and second place in the Eastern Athletic League.
King said he is making the recommendation, which will be presented at next Tuesday’s Lassen Unified School District Board meeting, because, “I feel the right time is now to make a change.”
King will recommend Edwin Lombardi, the present varsity wrestling and baseball coach, who also coached Lassen’s freshman football team three years ago to succeed Levada.
Levada, who said he was totally surprised by King’s action said, “I had anticipated retiring from coaching in a couple of years, but not this suddenly.”
The Lassen College and Chico State Graduate said King called him to his office the day before Easter vacation.
“He said he was going to recommend I be relieved of the football coaching job,” Levada said.
“We’re not the best of friends. We don’t particularly admire each other.”
King denied any personality conflict saying he had the highest regard for Levada as a person and a coach.
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