On Friday, one of Lins' top assistants became his successor as Moorpark High's head football coach.

Three days after Lins stepped down after 18 years with the Musketeers, Ryan Huisenga was announced as Moorpark's new head football coach Friday.

He has deep connections to the program. Huisenga is a Moorpark High graduate who was the starting quarterback for the Musketeers in 1990 and 1991, and has served as the team's offensive coordinator for six of the past seven seasons.

The graduate of California Lutheran University revealed his emotions in a news release from the school.

"I know it may sound insincere, but actually becoming head coach of my high school football team is something I've been thinking about since I first put on pads," he said. "I've lived here all my life, even went to college a few miles down the way. This is my dream job."

The school also announced that Ron Wilford, who was Moorpark's head coach when the program won a CIF-SS championship in 1997 and has served as the Musketeers' defensive coordinator, has been named the associate head coach.

"It was people like Ron Wilford, former CLU coach Scott Squires and current CLU coach Ben McEnroe that influenced me and pushed me into coaching and this career. I can't thank people like Tim Lins, (athletic director) Rob Dearborn and (principal) Carrie Pentis enough. I am so grateful and appreciative of their support, trust and this amazing opportunity," Huisenga said. "This program has amazing facilities, the best in the area, and I am ready to hit the ground going."

Huisenga, who also became a three-year starter at quarterback at CLU, was the quarterbacks coach under Wilford on the Musketeers' 1997 championship team. He has also coached at CLU and is a former head coach at Hueneme High.
He was a roommate with current University of Texas head coach Tom Herman at CLU, and shares much of the same offensive philosophy. He has tutored a long list of county standouts, including Brian Bechen, Grant Rohach, Josh Pinkard, Charles Dillon and Chad Hansen.

Last fall, he directed quarterback Tyger Goslin and tight end Bentley Hanshaw, who each are headed to Division I programs. Goslin has committed with Navy and Hanshaw will play at BYU.

Herman, a Simi Valley High graduate, weighed on on the hiring: "Ryan Huisenga is one of the best young coaches in the high school game. He is a friend, of course, but he is also a tremendous husband, father and mentor to thousands of student-athletes. Congratulations to Moorpark High for hiring such a superb young coach."
Ryan and his wife Janine have twin 10-year-old boys, Quinn and Tyler.
He becomes the 14th head coach in Moorpark's 98 years.