MacNeal Leaving Lakewood For Carlsbad High School

(Rashaun Haylock) - Lakewood's Thadd MacNeal has been named the head coach at his alma mater, Carlsbad High School.

MacNeal went 45-15 during his five seasons at Lakewood, including 25-5 in the Moore League. All but one of those losses in the Moore League was against Long Beach Poly. He leaves Lakewood after posting three consecutive double-digit win seasons, including back-to-back CIF PAC-5 Division semifinals appearances (2008, 2009) and the school's first league title in 26 years, winning the Moore League in 2009.

During the '09 season, MacNeal led the Lancers to a 21-14 win over Long Beach Poly. The win snapped Poly's 80-game league win streak, and marked Lakewood's first win over the Jackrabbits in 26 years. Also, 25 Lancers earned scholarships to play football under his watch

Lakewood returns, one of Southern California's best wide receiver duos in class of 2012 recruits Darius Powe and Malik Gilmore. The lower level teams went a combined 19-1 last season. It was important to MacNeal to leave the program better than he found it.

"I think it's in great shape," says MacNeal. "There's a bunch of good kids, good parents, all the finances are in order, all the schedules [are] set up, so I think the next guy that comes in can be successful. He really can. The ingredients are all there."

He now enters what he calls a rebuilding process at Carlsbad. Carlsbad, also the Lancers, are coming off of a 6-6 season, including a 2-2 record in the Avocado West League in the top division in San Diego. Carlsbad is in the same league as two-time State Bowl Champion, Oceanside.

The Pirates have won seven consecutive CIF San Diego Section titles.

MacNeal was offered the job last July, but it was too close to start of the season for him to leave Lakewood. This time around, the timing was right. He received a formal offer and accepted Monday.