Osso ends up at Uni

Jeremy Osso, the former Costa Mesa High football coach, will work as the offensive line coach at University High, he said Wednesday.

Osso went 20-33 with two league titles in five seasons before being fired as coach at Costa Mesa last month. Costa Mesa Principal Phil D’Agostino said he wanted the school to go in a different direction. Osso said he was removed because he didn’t have a teaching credential.

Wally Grant, a former assistant at Tustin and Mesa, took over as the interim coach. Osso was asked to stay at Costa Mesa as the offensive coordinator, but he declined the offer.

“To me that was them trying to save face,� Osso said at the time.

Osso is now starting over at University.

He led the Mustangs to a share of the Orange Coast League title in 2007 and an outright league championship in 2008. He guided Costa Mesa to the playoffs, 2007, 2008 and 2009, each time losing in the first round.

Uni endured a 1-9 season last year. The Trojans’ lone win came against Estancia, Osso’s alma mater. Uni will play at Estancia Sept. 23.

Osso said he is excited to work with longtime coach Mark Cunningham, who battled throat cancer last fall. He missed four games, but returned to the team.