Aliso Niguel selects Fred Gambrell as new football coach

Aliso Niguel High has turned to veteran sideline leader Fred Gambrell to guide its football program, announcing the hire Thursday on the team’s social media channels. Gambrell, who spent the past two seasons as head coach at Sunny Hills, confirmed the move and will take over for Michael Calahan, who resigned in December after six years with the Wolverines.

Gambrell’s recent tenure at Sunny Hills saw the Lancers rebound from a 2-8 campaign in 2024 to a 6-4 finish this past fall. Prior to that post, he served as an assistant coach at San Clemente, bringing a mix of head-coaching experience and deep local knowledge to his new role.

Aliso Niguel is coming off an 8-4 season that included a third-place finish in the Foxtrot League. With the program set to transition into the competitive Epsilon League in 2026 and 2027—joining Brea Olinda, Foothill, Newport Harbor, Tesoro and Trabuco Hills—athletic officials are banking on Gambrell’s track record of quick turnarounds to keep the Wolverines on an upward trajectory.