Former Cowboys CB Orlando Scandrick to relaunch football program at LA high school

This autumn, a former Cowboys cornerback will return to the field, but from the sidelines, offering a very different perspective.
Orlando Scandrick, a nine-season player for Dallas, has been appointed as the new head football coach at Los Angeles’ Playa del Ray’s St. Bernard High School. About fifteen miles away, in Torrance, California, is where Scandrick was born.
After an abridged schedule in the spring of 2021, the program Scandrick inherits has not played a game and has seen turbulent times ever since.

With one game remaining in the shortened 2021 season, former coach Manuel Douglas announced his resignation. On the morning of the season finale, Douglas—who had been the subject of an investigation at his previous school—gave St. Bernard notice, citing “personal reasons.”
Subsequently, the school declared that it was “cooperating fully in an investigation concerning a former employee and volunteer” of the football program, which was being conducted by federal law enforcement.
After Douglas left the team, a lot of players left as well. During the summer, the president and principal of the school also quit.

St. Bernard now looks at Scandrick. In2008, the Cowboys selected the former Boise State player in the fifth round of the draft. He played in 125 games for Dallas, recording 11.5 sacks and 406 tackles. In addition, he forced seven fumbles and picked up eight interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
After the 2017 season, Scandrick was let go when defensive backs coach Kris Richard moved to Dallas. He played for the Chiefs for one season and the Eagles for a portion of another. Philadelphia released him in October of 2019.

He will now lead the charge to revive the Vikings varsity program; in an attempt to entice more St. Bernard’s students to sign up for the fall season, he met with parents and players in late April.
“I couldn’t pass up this very unique challenge and fascinating opportunity,” the 35-year-old Scandrick stated to the Los Angeles Times. “A program can be rebuilt from the ground up.”