A loyal assistant coach finally got his chance to lead the Royal High football team.

Kevin Flye, an assistant with the Highlanders for 18 years, has taken control of the football team from Gene Uebelhardt.

"Kevin has some really good ideas, and he's got a lot of new energy he'll bring into our program," said Royal athletic director Jim Wilber.

Flye, an English teacher, started working with the Highlander football team as a special teams coach. He has been the defensive coordinator since 2000.

Uebelhardt guided Royal for 21 years before retiring from coaching in January. The Highlanders finished 4-6 in 2008, and haven't won a Marmonte League title in five years.

Wilber said the team will continue to emphasize education first.

"We don't have a lot of Division I players in Simi Valley—our players will need academics to get through college," Wilber said.

"As far as other side of things, we'll wait and see. (Flye's) got good ideas as far as getting Royal football more visibility within the community."

The new coach has already started working with returning players during sixth period.

Flye's son, Cameron, was a standout linebacker at RHS.

"It's his program," Wilber said. "He said the first year there might be a little bit of a learning (curve). I believe he'll do a very good job for us." — Eliav Appelbaum