SAN JOSE – David Diaz-Infante has been hired to replace Jalal Beauchman as the head coach of the Bellarmine College Prep football program, the school announced Friday.
Diaz-Infante graduated from Bellarmine in 1982 before going on to play at San Jose State and in the NFL. The former offensive lineman won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos in the late 1990s.
“David brings a sense of pride, tradition, and hard work from his playing days at Bellarmine, San Jose State, and the NFL,” Bellarmine athletic director Kevin Saldivar said in a news release. “His love and enthusiasm for Bellarmine football and the life lessons that the game can teach young men is what is most exciting about this new chapter of Bellarmine football. I can’t wait to see David build on the past success of the program while forging his own legacy for many years to come.”
Diaz-Infante, 59, played on the Bells’ first Central Coast Section championship team in 1981.
“I am beyond excited to have been given the opportunity to lead the next chapter of the storied Bellarmine football program,” Diaz-Infante said in a news release. “Being named head coach and following in the footsteps of John Hanna, Walt Arnold, Mike Janda, and Jalal Beauchman is a tremendous honor and I’m excited to add to the history and legacy those coaches have carved.
“Bellarmine and Bellarmine football have a rich tradition and history and I’m thankful to the school administration and athletic director for trusting me to carry that legacy forward.”
The decision to hire Diaz-Infante came after what Bellarmine’s news release called an extensive search.
When he finished playing, Diaz-Infante worked as a broadcaster for ESPN and coached with the Cardinals, Jets and Chargers.
Diaz-Infante is in the Bellarmine and San Jose State athletic halls of fame.
Beauchman stepped down on March 24 after three seasons.
Last fall, the Bells captured CCS Division II and Northern California 3-A regional championships.
Bellarmine lost to Laguna Hills 28-27 in the 3-A state final.
Beauchman, who played receiver for Bellarmine in the mid-2000s, finished with an 18-14 record. That included a 2-3 mark during the pandemic-shortened spring 2021 season.
Diaz-Infante is Bellarmine’s third head football coach since 1984.
Mike Janda, whom Beauchman succeeded, coached the Bells for 36 seasons before announcing his retirement in January 2020.
He guided the San Jose school to a CCS-record 286 victories and captured six section and 14 West Catholic Athletic League championships. His program played in three state finals and won a NorCal title in 2015.
Bellarmine’s coaching change is the second in the WCAL since the end of last season.
Lenny Vandermade, an assistant coach at USC for the past four years, was named St. Ignatius’ new coach on March 1. He replaced John Regalia, who stepped down in January after 12 seasons as head coach.
