Tim Peterson
By Tim Peterson
A new coach wasn’t something Monrovia planned on in 2016. Chris Stevens was just coming off of his second year as head coach and had some success. It usually takes about 3-4 years before a coach puts his stamp on the program so Stevens wasn’t going anywhere. And then suddenly he was…
“It’s strange how things work out sometimes,” said Monrovia Athletic Director Randy Bell. “Chris came into my office one day and said ‘before the rumors get started and you hear it from somebody else, I did apply at Chino Hills.’ He went on to tell me that he’s a Chino Hills resident and the drive to Monrovia was a lot harder than he thought. It just made sense for him and his family.”
“Anyone who has a kid trying out for his High School football team needs to read this book. Torosian has taken his 20 some years of reporting on Prep sports, mixed a healthy dose of San Gabriel Valley insider references and created a very readable first effort.”
“A page turner…I’m sorry it’s over! Is a sequel in the works?”
“Torosian does for high school football what Hemingway did for the Spanish Civil War…compelling look beyond the scoreboard and into the lives of players…”
“A truly great story unfolds in the pages of Joe Torosian’s first novel. With high school football at its core, the story of Dale Andrade shows how a young man grows in all aspects of his life thanks to being a part of a team and a football community.”
“This is a great read for everyone: from those who love high school football to those who have no idea about the game.”
“This book brings you onto the field and into the locker room…”
Joe Torosian’s high school football novel is available through Amazon.com –click pic–
(Cover by Pat Cherry www.blackheartart.com)
Stevens left for the only job he would have left for. “He told me it’s the only place he applied, the only place he would have applied. And what do you know? He got it. I can’t blame him,” Bell said.
So now the Wildcats turn to long time area coach Jerry Chou. Chou brings a ton of experience on the high school level. He has spent time at Glendale, Temple City and most recently Montebello and won a couple of CIF titles as the head coach at Eagle Rock a decade ago.
“It’s funny. I used to scout his teams when he was at Eagle Rock back in the day. He always had some of the most disciplined, well run squads I’d ever seen,” Bell said. “So I was happy to be able to get him over here. Since he’s been here he’s just come in and taken charge. He’s just a great stand up guy.”
Chou seemed happy to be at Monrovia on Thursday presiding over a group of athletes that not every school has the luxury of having.
“It’s a just a great situation for me,” Chou said. “We’ve been out about three weeks now. It’s been fun.”
And a new era at Monrovia begins.
**
I caught up with Azusa’s Joe Scherf who stepped down last week at Azusa. So what’s in his future? Coaching? Teaching? Well, that and a whole lot more. Some pretty interesting stuff.
“I will miss Friday nights in the valley and with the great coaches and players I had the pleasure of working with at Azusa. I will also miss the coaches I got to compete against. I always enjoyed the conversations I had with them before the games,” Scherf said.
Pretty basic stuff right? But Scherf went on…
“I live in Pinon Hills, have two acres, an incredible wife and four wonderful kids, as well as chickens, pigs, ducks, and soon to be horses. I will have a teaching job at Hesperia High while taking over the OC position on the football team. All of this because I am blessed. The reason for all of this is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through him all is possible.”
Truly blessed.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.
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