Liberty High School in Menifee tabs Kraig Broach as first football coach

Kraig Broach’s absence from the sidelines was short-lived.

Broach officially was revealed as the first football coach at Liberty High School in Menifee, which will open its doors in the fall of 2021. The announcement of Broach’s hiring comes only 11 months after he resigned from his coaching post at Heritage High School, also located in Menifee.

Broach said he started missing many aspects of coaching, especially after seeing the interactions between his daughter Kailee, a sophomore student and water polo player at Heritage, and her coaches.

“I really missed being able to connect with people, especially the kids,” Broach said Friday afternoon. “I still believe it was the right decision to step away for a while. Being away just reinforced all the reasons why I enjoy coaching. I’m really excited to get back at it.”

Broach already has shown the ability to start a program from scratch. He built the program at Heritage from the ground up and quickly turned it into a perennial powerhouse. Broach guided the Patriots to a 117-31 record during his 12 seasons at the helm. Heritage made three trips to the CIF Southern Section title games and captured the 2013 Eastern Division championship.

“He has a proven track record, and we’re excited to see all of the good things Kraig will do here at Liberty,” Bison athletic director Scott Moore said. “But Kraig’s success going beyond the wins and losses. His character is impeccable and he truly cares for the kids on and off the field. We’re trying to build a strong school here, both academically and athletically, and we believe Kraig fits the bill perfectly.”

Broach has the support from some familiar faces. Erika Tejeda was the principal at Heritage before taking on the same position at Liberty. Moore once was on Broach’s coaching staff at Heritage and was that school’s athletic director for seven years before moving over to Liberty.

“Coaching at Liberty was something that was always floating around in my head,” Broach said. “When they named the principal and athletic director, it really made me look even closer. At some point, everything just clicked.”

Broach said he is looking forward to molding a new football program for a second time.

“If anything, I am a little more confident this time around because I have more experience now,” Broach said. “I have nothing but love for Heritage, and that school always will be special to me. But this is not Heritage. This is Liberty, and we need to find and form our own identity.”

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