Cathedral’s unusual arrangement: President, principal are head coaches

If you run cross country or play football at Cathedral High, you better be very polite and respectful to the head coaches. They are also the school’s president and principal, respectively.

Martin Farfan and Arturo Lopez continue to play dual roles, making Cathedral likely the only school in the state with such an arrangement.

Despite all the time and responsibility it takes to coach and help run the Cathedral, they seem to make it work. Last week, while school was closed for vacation, the two held practices on Monday. Farfan went for his usual jog around the neighborhood after practice and ended up on the field while Lopez practiced soccer.

Both believe in the importance of academics and lessons learned in sports to help prepare students for the future.

Their players know, however, that with the school’s two big wigs also wearing coaching caps, they must always perform on their best behavior.

This is a daily look at positive happenings in high school sports. To submit news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.