Football: Jones resigns at Gardena

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Saying he was ‘just burned out,’ Marshall Jones has resigned as Gardena’s football coach after 11 seasons.

‘Probably about three or four weeks ago, I started thinking about it,’ said Jones, 47. ‘I just felt like I wasn’t doing the job the way I had done it in the past.’

Jones informed his players Friday after the Panthers’ 35-0 loss to San Pedro concluded a 2-8 season in which Gardena finished winless in the Marine League.

The Panthers finished second twice in league play under Jones and advanced to the City Section semifinals in 2002. ‘We had our share of success,’ he said.

Jones said losing his mother to pancreatic cancer during the 2005 season took an especially heavy toll on him.

‘I thought after the season I was OK,’ he said. ‘But just recovering the energy and drive it takes to be a head coach, especially in a competitive league, it didn’t happen.’

Jones, who will continue to teach physical education at Gardena, said he intended to take a year off before contemplating a return to coaching.

‘I’m going to put it in God’s hands and see where it goes from here,’ he said. ‘I definitely need a break.’

--Ben Bolch