‘It feels good’: Curtis Allen returns to lead Redwood football as new head coach

Redwood High School has a new head football coach and it’s a familiar face — Curtis Allen.

Allen, a 1981 Redwood grad and former head football coach at College of the Sequoias, was officially hired on Jan. 13 to lead the Rangers program.

Allen replaces Kevin Scharton, who went 32-23 in five seasons before resigning in December.

The Rangers are coming off a 4-7 record and have not won a playoff game since the 2019 campaign.

Redwood is turning to a coach who has a proven coaching resume.

A former Fresno State and Canadian Football League defensive back, Allen has coached football or track and field at Fresno State, Fresno City, COS and most recently at UCLA where he served as the sprints and relays assistant coach from 2017-22.

Allen also coached Olympians Deajah Stevens and Quincy Hall. Hall captured the 400-meter gold medal this past summer at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Former College of the Sequoias head football coach Curtis Allen is the new head coach at Redwood High School.

Allen is currently the program director at COS’ HBCU Pathway Program.

At Redwood, Allen played for the late Roger Kelly, who directed the Rangers to three Central Section titles (1973, 1982, 1983) and a 148-72-2 record before departing to coach at COS.

“It feels good to go back to my high school,” Allen said. “I was not really trying to go after the job, but at the same time, I think that I can elevate that program. I know what it’s supposed to look like. I know what the program is supposed to be, so therefore, I feel like I can get it back there to what it was. When I was there, we were great. Coach Kelly, coach [John] Yavasile had great teams.”

Allen started his coaching career at COS in 2002, coaching alongside Kelly before being handed the keys to the Giants program in 2005.

During Allen’s reign, COS went 35-25 from 2005-10.

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