Diehl to lead Kofa football program

David Diehl was officially named the newest head football coach for Kofa High School on Wednesday during the monthly Yuma Union High School District Governing Board meeting.

Diehl, who has been an assistant coach with the Kings for five years, takes over for Ben Franz, who resigned following the 2017 season.

“I am excited,” Diehl said. “I can’t wait to get started. We are going to really focus on things as a process, making effort plays, playing the right way, and building on things that have gone well over the past few years.”

The Kings have won more games (eight) in the past two seasons than any two seasons combined in the last decade. They opened the 2016 season with a 5-1 record, including holding three opponents to seven points or fewer. It was the team’s best start to a season in 15 years.

Jamar McFarlane, Anthony Gonzalez and Jesus Barba are expected to be three key returners for a team that will lose 21 seniors, including stalwarts Isaac Marquez, Christian Meraz, Zac Miller and Ariel Beal.

Diehl will be entering his second year as a teacher at Kofa. He has also assisted with the boys basketball team for the Kings and spent five years as a teacher at Woodard Junior High in Yuma. He is originally from the Pasadena, California area and attended Fresno State University and California State University, Los Angeles prior to teaching.