St. Francis High Fires 8-12 Football Coach

St. Francis High has fired football Coach Andy Boynton because of dissatisfaction with the direction of the program.

“I think we just made the decision that we needed new personnel for the program to grow,” said Father Laurence Caruso, the school principal. “I think we had some potential this year that wasn’t realized.”

In two seasons at St. Francis, Boynton was 8-12. This year, the Golden Knights’ first in the Mission League, the team was 3-6, 1-4 in league play.

“I was totally shocked,” Boynton said. “I was told I was hired to build a program.”

Caruso, who declined to elaborate on his concerns about the football program, told Boynton last week that his contract would not be renewed.

The Golden Knights, who were moved up from the Division VII San Fernando League to the Division IV Mission League this season, had troubles from the start of the year.

Chris McAlister, a sophomore running back who was highly regarded by Boynton, had to sit out a game while the Southern Section investigated the circumstances of his transfer. After gaining 92 yards in his first game, McAlister finished with 190.

St. Francis also was forced to use four quarterbacks this season because of injuries.

Boynton, 31, had spent seven years as an assistant at Mater Dei High School, Pasadena City College, Nevada Las Vegas and St. Mary’s College before taking his head coaching position at St. Francis in La Canada.

Boynton will finish the school year as a science teacher, he said.

“I just bought a home a mile and a half from St. Francis,” he said. “This definitely was not in my plans. . . . “