PREP NOTES : Brown Named Capistrano Valley Football Coach

Capistrano Valley High School named Dave Brown football coach Friday, replacing Eric Patton, who left the job to become defensive coordinator at Saddleback College.

Brown, who was Patton’s defensive coordinator at Capistrano Valley in 1994, was chosen from among 10 candidates, Principal Jessica Gorman said. Brown becomes the fourth head coach in the school’s 17 years.

“We believe (Brown) will give us a smooth transition,” said Gorman, who introduced Brown to 85 players and students Friday during lunch on campus. “Dave knows the players, the parents, the staff and the talent. We feel we have selected the very best person, a real winner.”

A three-year starter at USC, Brown was an all Pac-8 center on the Trojans’ 1972 undefeated national championship team.

He has been a high school head coach in Oregon, leading Molalla High in 1983 to its first winning season (5-4) in 17 years. He left Oregon in 1988 to join San Clemente High’s football program as a defensive coordinator under Dave Elecciri. Four years later, Brown was sophomore coach at Dana Hills High before coming to Capistrano Valley, where he’ll teach.