Prep talk: Cathedral's unusual arrangement: President, principal are head coaches

"If you run cross-country or play soccer at Cathedral High, you'd better be extra polite and respectful around the head coaches. They also happen to be the school president and principal, respectively. Martin Farfan and Arturo Lopez continue to hold dual roles, which probably makes Cathedral the only school in the state with such an arrangement. Despite all the time and responsibilities required to coach and help run Cathedral, they seem to make it work."

"This past week, while school was closed for the holidays, both held practices Monday. Farfan took his usual jog around the neighborhood after practice and ended up on the field while Lopez held a soccer practice. Both believe in the importance of academics and the lessons learned in sports to help prepare students for the future. Their players, however, know with the school's two big wigs also wearing coaching hats, they always need to be on their best behavior."

Cathedral High's president, Martin Farfan, and principal, Arturo Lopez, both serve as head coaches for cross-country and soccer respectively. The dual roles likely make Cathedral the only school in the state with such an arrangement. Both maintain coaching responsibilities alongside administrative duties, conducting practices even during holiday closures. Farfan often combines a neighborhood jog with coaching and sometimes joins other practices. Both leaders emphasize academics and the life lessons provided by sports to prepare students for the future. Players recognize the need for exemplary behavior because school leadership also fills coaching roles. Both individuals appear to balance responsibilities successfully.

Read at Los Angeles Times