CHAMINADE'S LAWSON TO START OVER AT MALIBU.

Byline: Eric Sondheimer Daily News Deputy Sports Editor 

Rich Lawson, head football coach for the past nine years at Chaminade High School, is leaving the West Hills campus for his dream job - starting a new football program at Malibu High.

Lawson, an avid surfer, now will have no problem checking out the waves at Zuma Beach, since Malibu is located across the street.

``Maybe I'll find a spot to store (my surfboard),'' he joked.

In reality, the 41-year-old coach said he is leaving Chaminade because of the opportunity to start a program from scratch. Malibu will have a frosh-soph team next season, then begin varsity football in 1997. He's also getting a raise in salary by moving from a private to a public school.

Lawson helped make Chaminade one of the San Fernando Valley's top football programs. Before he took over, the Eagles had no stadium and weren't exactly beating top teams. Now, they have one of the area's newest and best facilities. They also reached the Southern Section Division III semifinals last year. Lawson won two Mission League titles and was a constant pursuer of Mission power Notre Dame.

Defensive coordinator Ed Croson, who has been at Chaminade since 1989, is expected to become the school's interim head coach.

Malibu athletic director Mike Mulligan said Lawson has excellent credentials and should fit in well building a football program. And his surfing background didn't hurt, either.

``That gave him extra points when he said he was a surfer,'' Mulligan said.

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