Coaches

Head Coach John Barnes is now in his 34th year as the head football coach at Los Alamitos High School. Coach Barnes has created a legacy of winning unequalled by few of his peers 295 wins, 16 league championships , and four CIF Championships – two in Division 3 (1991 and 1992); one in Division 2 (1993) and one in Division 1 (2002). Under Coach Barnes, Los Alamitos amassed a 47-game winning streak playing against what was considered by many to be the toughest football division and section in the country at the time. His overall record of 295-82-8 results in a winning percentage greater than 77%. His 295 wins are the most of any coach in Orange County history and fifth among California coaches for all-time wins.

In 2002, he was honored as the West Region Coach of the Year, and the All-American Football Foundation Coach of the Year. He earned California State Coach of the Year honors in 1993, and was named Orange County Coach of the Year in 1988, 1994 and 1999. The Press Telegram named him their Dream Team Coach of the Year in 1991, 1993 and 2002. Lastly, he was named The National Football Foundation Orange County Chapter Coach of the Year in 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 2002.

Coach Barnes and his staff are 5-1 in post-season all-star competitions. In January, 2005 Barnes coached the West squad to victory in the US Army All-American Game in San Antonio. He and his staff have also twice coached Shrine Game all-star teams to victories. In 1991 his California team beat Texas 31-12 and in 2002 he was at the helm when the public schools beat the private schools, 21-14. Coach Barnes graduated from St. Anthony High School in Long Beach, earning acclaim as a triple threat quarterback, punter and placekicker for the Saints. He then quarterbacked and captained the University of Nevada (Reno) Wolfpack, graduating in 1970. Barnes returned to southern California in 1971 and was an assistant coach at St. Anthony for one year and also at Cypress High from 1973-77. He received his first head coaching assignment at Magnolia High in Anaheim in 1978 . In 1979, he took over the head coaching assignment at Los Alamitos High School, a role that he has maintained ever since.

Coach Barnes has been married to Anita, his high school sweetheart, for 42 years. They have three children: Karyn and Brian, both of whom are now teachers, and Jimmy, who led the Griffins to the CIF championship game in 2004. Brian is also a successful head coach, leading Tesoro High School to the South Coast League championship as well as the Pac-5 championship game in 2008 after which he was named Orange County Coach of the Year.

Coach Barry Sher begins his 29th season for the Griffins, his 16th as the defensive coordinator. Coach Sher is a 1974 Los Al graduate and earned his B.A. degree from Cal State Long Beach in 1979. He initially coached baseball at Millikan High School after graduating from college, but returned to Los Al in 1981 where he coached baseball. In 1984, he started his Griffin football coaching career, where he has been ever since.

When not coaching the Griffins, Coach Sher owns and manages a successful insurance business, Stewart Insurance Agency in Long Beach, which he has served for over 30 years. Barry lives in Cypress with his beautiful wife Tina, and his son, Harry, who he is so proud of.

Coach Mark Rehling is in his 11th year on the Los Al Staff and his 39th year of coaching high school Football. He is a 1971 graduate from Marina High School. He attended Golden West College, then transferred to California State University, Long Beach, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in English/Speech Communications He has taught English for 26 years. Coach Rehling was also the Head Football Coach at Marina High School for five years. Coach Rehling and his wife JoAnne live in Westminster and have two grown children, Gregory and Garet.

Coach Greg Snyder is in his fifth year as a Los Alamitos Varsity coach. It will be his fourth year as an Offensive Line Coach. He has also coached Linebackers and Tightends for Los Al. Coach Snyder had been the Junior Varsity Head Coach for the last three years, but is only coaching the Varsity Offensive line this year.

Coach Snyder lives in Long Beach. He played on the Offensive Line throughout his high school years and graduated from Los Alamitos High School in 2007. He is currently pursuing a degree in history and a teaching credential from California State University Dominguez Hills. He plans on graduating in December. Upon completion of his degree, he looks forward to beginning his career as a teacher and coach.

Coach Keenan Howry is entering his second season as the Griffins’ Varsity Receiver Coach. The former Los Al and University of Oregon great is looking to pass down his knowledge to an inexperienced receiving group that has the potential to be great. Keenan was an All-State Wide Receiver for Los Alamitos from 1995-1999, which he followed by having a great career at the University of Oregon where he garnered All Pac-10 twice and All-American honors. Following his years at Oregon, Keenan was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings where he played for three years and the Seattle Seahawks for one year. Keenan graduated from the University of Oregon where he received his degree in Psychology. He currently resides in Carson and works as a personal trainer in Long Beach.

Coach Nello Tomarelli returns for a 25th year as the Defensive Line Coach at Los Alamitos. He previously coached at Lakewood High School from 1972-1973, and then, at Magnolia High School from 1974 to 1980. Coach Tomarelli was raised in Pennsylvania. He attended Arizona State University where he was a Scholarship football player, under the legendary Hall of Fame Coach Frank Kush. While playing at ASU, he was all WAC for two years. He graduated in 1970 from ASU and then played professionally in the Canadian Football League for the Calgary Stampeders. Coach Tomarelli and his wife, Sharon, reside in Cypress. They have three children, Michael (married to Jennifer), Lauren, and Michelle.

Coach Bannerman is entering his fourth season as a member of the Los Alamitos coaching staff and his first year as Head Coach of the Junior Varsity squad. A 2004 Los Al football alumni, Coach Bannerman was a three time Sunset League Champion and also a member of the 2002 CIF Division One Championship team. After graduating from Los Al in 2004, Kyle attended Golden West College and then UCLA where he graduated with a Sociology degree in 2009. Coach Bannerman is returning to coaching at the Junior Varsity level for the first time since he joined the Griffins’ staff in the Fall of 2009. After two years of coaching at the Freshmen level, including a Sunset League title, Coach Bannerman is looking forward to continuing the tradition of building championships, leaders and Griffins.

This is Coach Selbe’s first year at Los Alamitos. He will be coaching Defensive Backs for the Griffins. Coach Selbe has two sons, Joshua, 21 and Nicholas, 20. He and his wife, Denise, reside in Cypress. John was the Head Coach at Cypress HS for 9 years and was part of the CIF Championship in 2007. He has spent 35 years coaching in high school football.

Coach Chris Bingham returns for his second year as Junior Varsity Offensive Coordinator and Junior Varsity Defensive Backs Coach. His first year coaching at Los Alamitos was as Freshmen Wide Receiver and Defensive Backs Coach. Coach Bingham was born in Long Beach and grew up in Los Alamitos. He played football throughout his high school years and graduated in 1985. When not coaching football, Coach Bingham works for the Disney Corporation and is the proud father of two wonderful daughters, Brittany and Megan.