Former Norwalk star Rashaad Penny returns to coach

Rashaad Penny is heading back to high school football, this time as a head coach. Jordan High School in North Long Beach hired the former NFL running back on May 12 to lead its football program, according to local and national high school football reports. Penny, 30, grew up nearby in Norwalk, starred at Norwalk High, then went on to San Diego State and the NFL before injuries cut short his playing career. (the562.org) Jordan is turning to a coach with local roots and recent name recognition as it tries to lift a program that has struggled the last two seasons. The Panthers went 3-7 in 2024 and 2-8 in 2025, according to High School Football America and MaxPreps listings. (jordan.lbschools.net) Athletic director Josh Dozier said the school was drawn not only to Penny’s résumé but also to his standing as a mentor for students. ### How close is this move to Penny’s own football roots? Norwalk is about 10 miles from Jordan’s campus in North Long Beach, and Penny told The562 that coming back to the area made the job an easy decision. (the562.org) He said seeing younger relatives playing in the area made the move “kind of a no-brainer.” Norwalk High made Penny one of the best-known prep players in the region. The562 reported that he scored more than 100 career touchdowns there, produced more than 6,000 yards from scrimmage and helped lead the Lancers to a CIF-Southern Section title-game appearance as a senior in 2013. (highschoolfootballamerica.com) ### What does Penny bring from college and the NFL? San Diego State turned Penny into a national prospect. In 2017, he rushed for 2,248 yards, finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting and built an All-American season that helped make him a first-round NFL draft pick. The Seattle Seahawks selected him 27th overall in 2018. (the562.org) The NFL gave Penny six seasons with Seattle and Philadelphia. The562 said he appeared in his final NFL game in 2023 after injuries ended his playing career, and Pro-Football-Reference lists him as having played for the Seahawks from 2018 through 2022 and the Eagles in 2023. (the562.org) His best pro season came in 2021, when he ran for 749 yards on 119 carries with six touchdowns; The562 said his 6.3 yards per carry led the league that season. ### Why did Jordan make this hire now? Jordan is coming off back-to-back losing seasons, and the school is making a visible change at a time when football remains a high-profile program on campus. (the562.org) High School Football America described the Panthers as having struggled over the last two years, and MaxPreps records show the team finished 2-9 overall in 2025. Josh Dozier framed the hire around Penny’s off-field presence. “We’re beyond excited to have Coach Penny taking over the program,” Dozier told The562, adding that the school saw him as “a mentor, and a role model for our students, especially as student-athletes.” (the562.org) ### Has Penny coached before? Penny said coaching had long been part of his plans. The562 reported that he founded the Norwalk Vikings youth football program in 2021 and served as its president for three years before his parents, Robert and Desiree Penny, took over those duties. (highschoolfootballamerica.com) Pete Carroll and Nick Sirianni also shaped how Penny talks about teaching the game. The562 said Penny pointed to lessons from both former NFL coaches on detail and instruction as he moves into his first reported high school head coaching job. (the562.org) ### What happens next for Jordan football? Jordan High’s athletics page is the school’s public hub for team information, and the school site lists the campus at 6500 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach. As of May 18, the school website showed athletics updates and campus events but no posted 2026 varsity football schedule yet. (the562.org) The next public milestone will be the release of Jordan’s 2026 football schedule and preseason activities, which are typically posted through the school athletics page and outside schedule services such as MaxPreps. Penny will take over a Panthers program that played a full 2025 slate and is now preparing for its first season under a new head coach. (the562.org) (maxpreps.com) (jordan.lbschools.net)