Wilson’s administration has confirmed that the Bruins have hired Mayfair assistant Raudric Curtis to be the next head coach of the Bruins. Curtis replaces Travis Clark and takes over a Bruins team that went 9-5 and finished fourth in the Moore League, but ended the season with a run to the Division 9 championship game, ultimately losing 14-13.
“I am honored to lead the Long Beach Wilson football program and build upon the school’s championship tradition,” said Curtis. “Wilson is primed for sustained success and I’m here to take the Bruins to the next level.”
Curtis is a Bellflower alum with plenty of prior head coaching experience. He played college ball at Pomona-Pitzer and then coached at Bellflower and was head coach at Bosco Tech. He was the head coach at Bellflower from 2005-2017 and at Bosco Tech from 2019-2023. Most recently he was the Associate Head Coach and Assistant Defensive Coordinator at Mayfair on the Monsoons’ recent CIF-SS championship squad that made it to the CIF State Finals.
Curtis has drawn positive comments from those who have coached with him, including former Wilson head coach Mark Ziegenhagen, who is the defensive coordinator at Mayfair. Curtis is optimistic he can build off of the positive from last season.
“Wilson’s recent CIF appearance proves this program can win, and I’m committing to building a powerhouse that competes for a Moore League title year after year,” he said.
Curtis’ offense will be an explosive one, trying to get the teams’ playmakers in space; he’ll also emphasize a “relentless” approach on defense that jibes well with the team’s identity under ZIegenhagen, both when he was the head coach and when he was defensive coordinator under Mario Morales (now the head coach at Lakewood). Fans can expect the Bruins’ offense to incorporate elements of the popular Go-Go Offense utilized by UNLV.
Curtis said he’s hoping to keep together the core of Wilson’s assistant coaching staff in addition to adding others, and said the amount of talent returning to the Bruins from last year’s team is a strength.
“This program has loads of talent with (several key returners) as well as the tradition and hunger to achieve more,” said Curtis. “I coach without fear and instill that same mentality in my players. Wilson will take the field expecting to win every game, against any opponent.”
Wilson AD John Janzen said the school had more than 50 applicants for the position and expressed confidence in Curtis.
“He’s a man of great integrity, intelligence, and possesses an amazing work ethic,” he said. “His philosophy of ‘faith through adversity breeds championship spirit’ will instill confidence in our student-athletes and build character as they develop both on and off the field.”
