Coaching - 2024

After graduating from Cal State Los Angeles with a BA in History and Physical Education, David (Dave) Lertzman began his 41 years of teaching at Pasteur Junior High School (now LACES) and coaching career at his alma mater, Hamilton High School. At Hamilton High he coached Boys Gymnastics for 17 years, winning City Championships in 1979, 1983 and 1989. His 1983 and 1989 teams were recognized as State Team of the Year. He also coached football from 1972 to 1988 including serving as Head Varsity Coach from 1980 to 1988, winning League Championships in 1980 and 1982, and making the playoffs in seven of eight years. Dave left Hamilton High in 1989 with the most wins in school history in gymnastics and football.

He transferred to Monroe High School as Head Football Coach before moving to Birmingham High School in 1996. In 2001 he took over the Birmingham High Girls Volleyball program, coaching there until 2010. He retired from LAUSD in 2011. Following retirement Dave was a volunteer coach at Chatsworth High School from 2011-13, and joined the Sylmar High School staff in 2014. He became the Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach in 2019, and in 2021, won the CIF-LA Division 1 City Championship.

Dave also coached the Boys Volleyball Program during the pandemic-shortened season of 2020 and in the spring season of 2021, played outdoors on grass as no teams were allowed to play indoors. The Girls Volleyball fall season of 2020 was also played outdoors in the spring of 2021. Both the Girls and Boys teams advanced to the Division 1 Finals.

He has served as VP and President of the Los Angeles Coaches Association from 1986-89, during which time he first served on IAC, which governed athletics in the LA section of the CIF, serving again in 2007-2010. During his 54-year career, Dave was Coordinator of CIF Los Angeles City Section Boy’s Gymnastics, a founding member of the LA Football Coaches Association in 1992, and the LA Volleyball Coaches Association in 2004, for which he served as president.

He was a coach’s representative on the Coaches Count For Kids Committee in 1998 that included the establishment of Junior Varsity Coaching positions for volleyball, basketball, and softball. In April 2014 he was recognized as the major force behind change in LAUSD policy that now allows retired teachers to be hired as paid athletic coaches. Dave has over 700 wins combined in the sports he has coached during his brilliant career.