By Tim Peterson
(Montebello) – Montebello defensive coordinator Brian Zavala has left the Oilers to become the DC at Colony Montebello assistant Pete Gonzalez Jr. confirmed Thursday.
Zavala, who has also served as the head coach at Wilson and the DC at Northview, led an Oiler defense last year that allowed an average of 9.2 points per game. If you take away the 42-7 playoff loss to Valley View it was only 6.5 per game. Zavala over the years is known for developing defenses that have been dubbed “Darkside.”
Location was cited as the reason for the change with Colony being much closer for Zavala and his family.
“It’s nine miles from home. So yes it just made sense,” Zavala said. “It’s a great opportunity for me. I’m excited to see what I can do with all of the talent out at Colony. They have D1 talent there. Montebello is a great school to work for but this was just an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”
Any word on the El Monte football job????? I heard everyone hates the principal and it’s not the best environment to coach or teach at just ask around. Time is a wasting!!!!!!!
@Peterson, your barometer for what is acceptable or not is very subjective. I have seen post that make me blush and then I put up some good ole comedy, and it’s garbage. SMH. Be a good sport and let us have some fun. Lol
@MVS where is my comment? From this morning?
From T. Peterson: You really thought that garbage was going to see the light of day?
Rumor has it there’s an 8th grade qb with a D1 offer already in tow that just might be going to Monrovia High instead of leaving to a private school. Will probably start as a freshman.
While we are here. Monrovias ATH, ’18 Michael Washington secured his first offer to BYU. Trust me more are coming for him and his teamates.
The value of a experienced high school assistant no matter the record is priceless. That guy works long hours for nothing, has proven himself reliable through many seasons and has learned the game. Any HC would gladly take a coach like Zavala in a heartbeat. Heck even you lazy posters could get a gig as a assistant and you goofs could not design a scheme with a etch-a sketch.
Let’s not get it twisted. Those Monrovia C.I.F. Championships teams were special. Almost that whole division has been moved up. Paraclete and Sierra Canyon were in the Middle Valley division back then along with San Dimas. It was in no way a cupcake division.
With no cif championships Oiler football is not even close to Monrovia. Ever!
Wait what? Montebello in a better place than Monrovia? Hahahahahahahaha.. Never Oily Chump. Hahaha why do you think this dude left for Colony. Hahahahahahahaha Now that is what you call an “Alternative fact”
Phillip?
You made no point…At this time right now, MHS is in a way better place then Monrovia. No need to try to prove it. It’s straight facts!! Get a life ..
@Phillip
I can understand some of the points you’re trying to make. However, I think it’s a little contradicting with you saying Montebello can’t beat any of the big boys and all they could beat are some Division 11 teams, however aren’t those the same teams Monrovia beat? Isn’t that the only division Monrovia won a title in? Didn’t win in the Central when you were moved… And as far as I’m concerned, what does Monrovia know about big boy football? Beating Temple City, La Canada, and San Marino was good for one year, and you lost to them! What happened when you tried to step up and play St Francis? Why haven’t you guys stepped up more often? Why not Cathedral? Why not Salesian? Why not La Serna or La Mirada? Loyola? Amat? Lost to St Paul in playoffs. All teams that you have as much talent as and all in somewhat your area. Don’t see you rushing to play top teams with all of your talent and great coaching?? St Francis plays big boy football week in and week out… Trust me I’m not a fan of any specific school in this argument, just keeping it real! And no Montebello shouldn’t be playing them either, they don’t have the kind of talent to keep up with those schools. However, Monrovia does and you still don’t play up! Please don’t refer to big boy football and Monrovia in the same sentence. 3 championships in D10 (mid valley) is an awesome accomplishment, but with the amount of talent on those teams Monrovia shouldn’t have been in that division! And Los Altos is not big time football by the way before you try to use them in your next argument! They’re good, not great! Haven’t been higher than D6. I would say big boy football starts at D3 and higher. If you don’t agree than it shows you’ve never actually seen big boy football. You have better athletes then Los Altos, outside of the RB they had the last couple years.
Congrats!!!! Jerry Chou to Monrovia and now Zavala to Colony. Montebello is doing something right. Nice! Good to see a man like Brian who is an honorable and respectful human get to move on and spend more time with familia. You will be horribly missed but very much deserved. God bless, the Zavala family.
Phillip, your son won 2 cif championships in a division they had no business in. That’s why we are in the new playoff system. To be quite honest the team that beat Montebello doesn’t belong in Div 12 just look at how well they did and the teams in their division. The problem is Montebello is not trying to be something their not. Just a team in the correct division along with everybody else for that matter. Beating horrible is not honorable, except for HONKS like yourself that like to win against weaker opponents.
I think I made my point Lol…. thanks Olier people you just like trump with your stupid comments then you get burned just look at it like this Montebello can’t win against the big boys U GIVE UP HOMMIE …
@Phillip,
What I’m going to say is that your probably one of those former MHS coaches that got canned… get a life
Division 11 you get lost ain’t gonna win anything to to division 13 and I say maybe Lol.. my kid has 2 at Monrovia not just league but champs in the Midvalley you guys couldn’t get past the second round till the playoff change haha Lol..what you gonna say now FAN
A bunch of haters on here, he coached in d12 and won so what. Give him D6 kids and he’ll win at a D6 school, he gets the best out of who he has.
Everyone talking this sxxt probably didn’t even make the playoffs let alone the semi finals.
St Paul is garbage
@Phillip,
Third round was to eventual CIF and State Champion… your just another hater that don’t know anything!!! Get lost..
A close game to st Paul then you loose like that in the third round wow so who have they won
Who has Montebello beat besides St Paul let us know
Monrovia pounding its chest for beating who? TC San Marino SP LC cmon now
Sports Dad?
Please keep Chou and that coach that looks like Hulk Hogan! We don’t need either one…
Just wanted to Congratulate Coach Zavala and wish him Greg success. He is a great coach, very passionate about the game and knows how prepare and lead a team to compete amongst the best. Well deserved!
FYI Monrovia went undefeated in league. Chou also won 2 CIF Championships at Eagle Rock as head coach there. Chou is a good head coach he’s not going for a coordinator job especially with the talent Monrovia has coming back.
First off Monrovia didn’t lose to St.Paul by 50. The score was 54 to 42. Monrovia was leading 21-7 at half. They lost their starting free safety on the last play of the half to a torn acl. Right before that the starting CB to injury and those two were awesome in run support and St Paul ran outside at will with those 2 out.
The Oilers didn’t give up many points…
Does Division 12 play with 7 or 8 guys?
It was an honor sir. Knowing you for the short amount of time and watching what you guys did with our boys was great. Let them say what they want…good luck blessings to the family
Big shoes to fill. Oiler nation will feel this loss.
Good Luck Coach Zavala!
@ Get Real; Haters? really ?
Montebello would have no haters if you stayed quiet and played, but no, you run your mouths and are the biggest trash talkers in all Mid Valley Blog,
you get what you deserve
You’ve done a great job Coach. You’ve paid your dues and have earned your position to move up/on. Congratulations on your coaching accomplishments. You’re efforts have been fruitful. Good luck moving forward.
Jerry Chou??😂😂😂😂 what did he do before Zavala?? Not win any league championships that’s for sure!! St. Paul blow Monrovia out by 50 and ah if I remember correctly Montebello lost to st paul by 1(score7-6)……
Bring back jerry Chou
I find it ineterestig how many haters come out when it comes to Montebello Players/Coaches… Seems like wherever Zavala goes he is able to get the most out of the kids. Stop hating and give credit to a man that has had good defenses at multiple schools in the SGV. Looks like he doesent have a hard time finding jobs!
Yawn…
Zzzzzzzzz
He’s been at Montebello long enough that he doesn’t come off as a journeyman anymore.
To all you morons that like talking about MHS or Zavala,
MHS has had continued success because of a lot of different reasons. The main one is that the kids buy into the program infrastructure. They believe in each other. They believe in the coaching staff. Zavala is no doubt a huge loss but we will be ok. These changes happen every year all over the country and someone steps up every year and fills the spot. No different here!!
Good luck to Brian! It was great seeing you put in work for our community. Much continued success….
Jason is a Good Man and Coach. I met him when He Coached at Cathedral a few year’s back.
OVERRATED!!! How many teams has he been with in the past 10 years? Seems to wear out his welcome pretty quickly. Last year was good in D12, but aside from that a very mediocre career including the disaster at Wilson. Always gets blasted in playoffs against real competition which he’ll see often at Colony. Not seeing this as any great hire, but football news is slow right now.
With a guy like Zavala gone not sure what this does for Oilerville or the other 2 teams in the league? Looks like the school on the hill has the inside track on the Almont league…..
Montebello will have a tough time winning another league title with the departure of Zavala….. Let’s see what happends?
Montebello was very fortunate to have an assistant coach like Zavala. Quality assistants are like diamonds today…rare.
I’m sure Gonzalez will do his best to replace him but you gotta figure a big drop off.
Guys like Mac at Arroyo or Mooney at South El Monte are pure gold guys who come in make the head man look better while making his job easier. Head Coaches know full well when they get these guys roll the red carpet because it’s a luxury to have them.
Good luck to Mr Zavala.
@mvs any word on SG
He’s the only reason why Montebello has been relevant the past 4 years.
One of the better Defensive Coaches Montebello has seen for a long time! What will we do now???
Coach Zavala will be sadly missed. Thank you for what you did for our boys and the program! Wish you all the best at Colony….
Why not take over a team? He was a hot commodity probably could’ve had his choice in any one of few jobs out there.
So happy for you and your family Brian! As you said at the banquet today, can’t pass up a chance to work 9 miles from home instead of 42 miles away!! Love you brother, you and your family will always be a part of our family!! Best of luck buddy!
Jason Carlin new dc at Montebello