Brad Talich steps down as Desert Oasis football coach

Brad Talich has stepped down as head coach of the Desert Oasis football program, citing undisclosed “health reasons.”

In his lone season at Desert Oasis, Talich led the Diamondbacks to a 7-4 record last year and the school’s first playoff victory after coming over from Coronado High. He spent three seasons with the Cougars and compiled a 20-13 record, including a 10-4 mark in Southeast League play.

“Having kids and a family, I have to step back for a while,” Talich said. “I told (the players) about my health reports from my doctors about two months ago. It’s something I need to take care of and have to get right.”

Michael Ovens, who was one of Talich’s assistant coaches last season, will take over the program. It will be his first head coaching job in Southern Nevada.

“He’ll do a good job there,” Talich said of Ovens. “He’s put in many years in town and it’s time to see what he can do. They’ll be doing some of the same things we put in place last year.”

Desert Oasis earned the Northwest League’s No. 3 seed last season and beat perennial power Palo Verde 34-12 in the Division I Sunset Region quarterfinals. The Diamondbacks lost to Arbor View 28-14 in the semifinals.

Talich, who lives in Henderson, said he will help the Foothill program this upcoming season.