JSerra Catholic Adds Two Former NFL Players to Football Staff

New hires Steve Beuerlein and Chris Conte aim to turn around struggling program.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California has announced the addition of two former NFL players, Steve Beuerlein and Chris Conte, to their football coaching staff for the 2026 season. Beuerlein will serve as the quarterbacks assistant, while Conte will be the defensive backs/passing game coordinator. The school is hoping the new hires can help turn around a struggling program that went just 3-12 in the tough Trinity League last season.

Why it matters

JSerra Catholic has struggled on the football field in recent years, going 14-18 over the past three seasons under previous head coach Victor Santa Cruz. The addition of Beuerlein and Conte, both with extensive NFL experience, signals the school's commitment to improving the football program and returning it to prominence within the highly competitive California high school landscape.

The details

Beuerlein was a fourth-round draft pick in 1987 and played in the NFL from 1987-2003, winning a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys and making the Pro Bowl in 1999. Conte was a third-round pick in 2011 and played safety for the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2011-2018. The two former pros will join head coach Hardy Nickerson Sr., who spent over 16 seasons in the NFL as a middle linebacker.

  • JSerra Catholic announced the new hires on February 19, 2026.
  • Beuerlein and Conte will join the coaching staff for the 2026 season.

The players

Steve Beuerlein

A former NFL quarterback who was a fourth-round draft pick in 1987 and played in the league from 1987-2003, winning a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys and making the Pro Bowl in 1999.

Chris Conte

A former NFL safety who was a third-round draft pick in 2011 and played for the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2011-2018.

Hardy Nickerson Sr.

The current head football coach at JSerra Catholic, who spent over 16 seasons playing middle linebacker in the NFL.

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What they’re saying

“We must turn this program around and get JSerra Catholic back to being a football powerhouse in California.”

— Hardy Nickerson Sr., Head Football Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

The new coaching staff will begin preparing the team for the 2026 season, with the goal of improving on the team's 3-12 record in the Trinity League last year.

The takeaway

The addition of two former NFL players to the JSerra Catholic coaching staff signals the school's commitment to reviving its struggling football program and returning it to prominence within the highly competitive California high school landscape.