CORONA, Calif. -- For a select group of football players in Southern California's Inland Empire, the weekend signifies anything but relaxation. After a week of high school academic work, Saturday morning ushers in several hours of graduate-level football training.

Class is called to order by former USC standouts Chris Claiborne and Lonnie Ford, who have made successful transitions into high school coaching after playing careers in the NFL and AFL, respectively.

Claiborne -- who racked up 312 tackles for the Trojans from 1996-98 and is USC's only Butkus Award winner -- began coaching at Corona High School in 2010 before moving to Pomona Diamond Ranch last season. Ford's first year with a whistle was in 2007, as he assisted at Lakewood High School during his final season playing for the Los Angeles Avengers. He now coaches at Vista Murrieta.

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Erik McKinney | email

Reporter, RecruitingNation

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