Tim Peterson
By Tim Peterson
You know you’re getting old when high school football players that you covered are now taking head coaching jobs.
Riley Saxon, who played quarterback for Temple City in 2006 and Oscar Robles who was behind center at Northview in 2008 have recently been named head coaches. Saxon took over at his alma mater while Robles took the reins at Workman. It’s kind of cool to see former players continuing in the sport. It’s going to take some young energy to revive both of those programs but that’s exactly what Saxon and Robles bring.
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I’d been hearing rumors about it since January and I almost expected it to happen after the 2015 season so I wasn’t surprised that Marc Paramo stepped down as the head coach at Rosemead. Paramo is going back to school and focusing on his professional career but a lot of it is the same old story. Long hours, little pay and not enough time for family.
“I love Rosemead, I’m a Rosemead graduate and I’m sure I’ll be back here coaching in some capacity one day. I’d even coach baseball or basketball if they asked,” Paramo said. “But right now I need some time away – maybe a year or two. I’m going back to school and expanding what I can do professionally but I’m still on campus.”
Names have already surfaced as to who Paramo’s replacement will be. Jude Oliva, who’s name pops up every time there is coaching vacancy, is at the top of the list. That would be great and I’m sure Oliva would have some interest. But there is one problem. Like a lot of head coaching jobs these days there isn’t a teaching job that comes with the position. With the calendar marching swiftly towards April, the Panthers don’t have a lot of time to make a decision.
With Paramo’s resignation that leaves three teams in the MVL without head coaches. There was talk that Marshall was going to fold the program but the Eagles are still alive and kicking and have six candidates interested in the HC position.
Nothing at all new out of El Monte. Eric MacIntyre, who was out after one year, is looking better and better with each passing day. The position has been flown but as of yet there’s simply not a lot of interest.
Arroyo, the current King of the MVL and CIF Division 12 for that matter, has added to its staff. Former Monrovia star defensive lineman Ellis McCarthy is now on board as an assistant coach. McCarthy, who also played at UCLA, will help out with the defensive line.
“He’s really excited. Obviously he’s knowledgeable. We’re excited about the future,” said Arroyo HC Jim Singiser.
The Knights did lose assistant James Rivera who left the staff and is going to school to become a youth minister.
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From what I’m hearing Los Altos is close to naming their head coach. The interviews have been conducted and they’re honing in on one candidate but as is always the case in hiring a new coach they’re waiting on one thing – board approval…stay tuned.
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Just a quick reminder – the Pomona Red Devil Passing tournament is scheduled for Saturday June 3. There are still four spots available. Yes, it’s already that time of year.
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Are the Ball Brothers, specifically father LaVar Ball, actually a curse for UCLA? While Lonzo is great, LaVar won’t shut his mouth and it makes you wonder if he ultimately pushes Steve Alford out the door. With the other two Balls still on the way, and millions of dollars being offered from Alford’s alma mater Indiana, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him bolt as soon as the tournament is over. Like Alford or not, he’s guided the Bruins to the Sweet Sixteen in three of his four years on the job.
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Did you know that all five of Pasadena’s starters are back next year from a team that went to the Division II CIF State Finals? Yes Bryce Hamilton is only a junior. Last Friday night the Esperanza fans were chanting early in the game “Your not Kezie!” at Hamilton in reference to their own star Kezie Okpala who is headed to Stanford. But by the end of the game, after Hamilton had scored 34 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, those same fans knew. No he’s not Kezie. He’s Bryce “Fricken” Hamilton.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.
@mvlhoops
Great point. I think this rule change has single handedly killed not only the muti-sport athlete but also is proving to be a coach killer. We’ve lost so many coaches to burn out because it’s a year long grind. With no pay increase I might add. I think the rule was good in theory in terms of keeping all the 7 on 7 teams away. But they are still here! I feel bad for the kids who like other sports. They made to feel like uncommitted or selfish because they want to play another sport??? Any smart football coach understands that if my athletes are playing wrestling/basketball or baseball/track they’ll be better when they get back. Plus more importantly they’ll miss the sport and look forward to it. As of now kids are having to run from basketball practice to football lifting or after track practice or a track meet go to football practice or weight lifting midway through a workout. Which is the fastest way to Get hurt! Go back to the old way. If anyone can tell me a positive perspective on the association rule I’d love to hear it.
When the leagues that make up the CIF voted to do away the the Association Rule, high school athletics definitely changed-some for the better, but most for the worst. The schools in the Southern Section voted for this, the CIF just implements the rules. This one rule change has pretty much eliminated the multi-sport athlete, which has a direct impact on every athletic team at every school in the Valley. Most schools in the Valley used to rely on those multi-sport kids to be key players in football, basketball and baseball/track. Now, the most talented kids are pretty much “forced” by their coaches to focus on just 1 sport, with football at the top of the list. If the kid wants to play multiple sports, you get a pissing match between the coaches, and football usually wins out. That stinks for the kid, for the other programs and for the school. That was never the case before the rule change, because coaches could not keep their kids year-round, and force them to practice football in March or play baseball/softball in October, or basketball in the Fall or Spring. It made for having a more well-rounded athlete, and a much better overall athletic program in general. It also allowed those coaches to coach other sports as well. There was a time at Arroyo-and I am sure it was the same at other schools-where the football coach also coached lower level baseball, the baseball coach coach lower level football, the basketball coach was a track coach, and so on. Everyone benefitted from that! Now, it’s every man for him or her self with the kids caught in the middle. How many Varsity head coaches coach other sports these days? I would venture to guess not many. I think if you ask the head coaches if they really want to be coaching their kids year-round, the majority of them would probably say no, but since there are NO limitations to what they can do, and everyone else is doing it, they feel the need to do it as well. The result is more and more coaches getting burned out, kids getting burned out or worse, getting hurt more often, and the entire athletic program suffers. I do agree that too many coaches are in it for the wrong reasons, and far too many are getting hired without much the experience they need to succeed.
Young coaches are great for energy and passion. I respect all coaches except for the ones that only hire other coaches who are dumber than them. The goal should be to hire guys who are strong where you are weak. Not so that you can be the big fish, say a shark in a water puddle. If opinions and personality scare you as a head coach……GET OUT THE GAME!
@FBFan @Pac5Scout
I agree with your count that there are young coaches who are getting the head jobs early. Very few have actually put in the work to understand what it takes. There is more to it than Xs and Os. There is a grind behind the scenes that does not make the paper or blogs. Too many of these young coaches watch too much football and want to call plays rather than understand the intricacies to the game. These are men who are in it for their ego and not because they want to mentor boys and help them to become men. They want to go to their buddies houses on Saturday and pretend they’re Urban Meyer or Todd Helton. Here is where I agree with @Pac5Scout where it is a hobby to look cool and have a play card hanging off your belt. These are the coaches I don’t trust and, guaranteed, there are a lot more of this type than quality mentors.
Part of it is that guys are becoming head coaches at such a young age now. It used to be that someone because a head coach after years and years of being an assistant. Now everyone wants to be a head coach in their 20’s. They do it hard for a few years and then burn out because the instant gratification they received early on is gone.
Throw in the year round aspect of football and coaches aren’t coaching for 30 plus years anymore.
Agree 1,000%. May 15 sounds about right. Year round is burning these guys out coaches and players. Increase stipends and go back to May 15. There’s no need for us to be practicing in January, March, February or Aril. It’s ridiculous in my opinion.
Most comments on the state of HS coaching are good ones. Right now a public high school coach is not a career but a hobby. It is something you try and see if you enjoy, like golf or fishing. And like most you give it up after a year or two. The coaches that stay are the ones that enjoy the hobby of coaching and the ego boost it gives them. When they start losing they quit quick or when the thrill is gone they dump her.
Bottom line head coaches receive nowhere near the compensation they deserve for the amount of time they put in. Football has become a year around sport requiring so much more time than previous head coaches were obligated to in years past. Factor that in, coupled with the loss of family time,parent BS, and the wear and tear… Stuff gets old
CIF has 2 options either separate public and privates or put everyone on a level playing field, $2400 stipend doesn’t compare to the $200k some coaches are getting at these privates, the only way to do so is by going back to spring football starts May 15 no organized practice before that.
I feel the issue must be addressed we’re losing too many great coaches.
@ Friday Knight
Great question, increase hours should be increase pay. At the schools that football is a priority schools like Servite etc… pay coaches over $200,000 a year. A coach in the valley will net(take home) about $2,400. A person in his right mine will not take on that responsibility for that kind of money.
@Knightfan,
You make sense. But No way it will happen. Administrators and unions don’t care. People say they want successful athletic programs but until they show the money you’ll continue to get coaches who are there for a few years, do a good job and then quit because they are burned out without pay.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, CIF is killing the public schools with the year round practice allowance. Situations like Charter Oak – Farrar, Arroyo – Singiser are becoming more and more rare, putting in so much time year round will get old extremely fast. Too much exterior influences, kids looking for a better situation, #d1bound, teamdime all that crap makes it harder and harder for a coach to want to stick around. I foresee high school age 7 on 7 teams turning into 11 on 11 full gear teams down the line if CIF doesn’t go back to the no practice till may rule.
Here’s a silly question…. If coaches can coach year round… shouldn’t the pay increase?
Travel ball is not driving coaches out of the business CIF made a rule that you could practice all year around. CIF is killing the multi sport athlete. If you were to give these coaches truth serum they would tell you they would rather coach better athletes then develop these kids.
Oh SoCal, you are so wise…
Malavasi never coached a day at Workman. Baldwin Park has always had talent. And Los Altos won 4 games in 3 years prior to Ziola getting there. All of this trumps your “talent” statement. Malavasi never being at Workman means he knows nothing of the talent situation. Baldwin always has talent so why would Heggins leave (they had a kid go to Cal just a year ago). And where was the talent when Ziola got to LA? Give us a break man. The current culture of youth sports, mommy/daddy ball, everyone going D-1, and all the travel ball BS is killing the high school scene, and driving the good coaches away.
If Paramo is focusing on his professional life, how does he still have time for football? He states he is going to take a year or two off.
From T. Peterson: He said he may coach this season as an assistant but would keep his schedule flexible – so he could still attend his classes etc. Plus being an asst. is nothing like being a head coach. The demand isn’t nearly as high. He needed to get away from the job as head coach for awhile.
Jude would be loved at Rosemead by teens and parents, as most of the Rosemead people are from Rebel backgrounds, and seen him do good things locally with kids,
they should find him a job teaching there, they have a few teachers they can do without
I think Howland got them to a few final fours, not Alford.
I say he goes, Alma mater, son is graduating, and most important, he has 2 Balls coming and doesn’t want to deal with daddy anymore
From T. Peterson: Hey Paul, yeah I meant Sweet Sixteen. Sorry, I had Final Four on my mind. And yes, I think he goes too. Ha ha! Thanks.
Most coaches resign because they is not enough talent coming up. Every coach wants to coach good players. That is why Paramo left Rosemead, Sanchez left Gladstone, Zoila left Los Altos, Escamilla left South El Monte, Silve left Walnut, Heggins left Baldwin Park, Malavasi left Workman, Cito left Gladstone, etc… It is hard to develop less talented players. A good coach will win ball games. A great coach will develop chicken sh** and make them over achieve and win ball games.
@ Chino Hills,
Your MR. Ball is a clown show… Totally making a name for himself on the backs’ of his sons,,, Can you say, LOSER!!! He is the exact problem with parents today, bunch of loud-mouth fools, taking credit when teams or athletes are successful and belittling coaches when teams lose. BBB, #3 Bi#$@es
Gary McKnight, the long time basketball coach at Mater Dei, regularly tells parents: “If I here one word from you about how to coach the team, your son will spend the entire season on the bench.” If this sounds heavy-handed, understand that McKnight wouldn’t come to the parents’ places of work and attempt to tell THEM how to do their work, so he’s only asking the same from them. Those who would defend Lavar Ball’s intrusion into the doings of coaches need to ask themselves: how well would YOU tolerate this kind of meddling if YOU were a coach?
It’s true. Arroyo baseball is in a bad situation right now. Their HC is old enough a big brother to his players and has minimal experience. It’s going to be a long season for the Knights.
Paramo is at Montebello. 100% bet the ranch, done deal. I guess he just needs a break from the head coaching thing.
I have an idea Knight Watch. How about discussing the Arroyo baseball and Softball teams performance today. You know they both lost at the swamp. Baseball score was Eagles 5 Knights 1- for a record of 1-7. 0-1 in the worst league in the SGVNow that’s news worth. I believe the Lady Knights lost 11-4. Midvalley might get 2 or 3 extra hits on their websight if that goes viral! Lol!
Which job gets filled first SG or El Monte
OLD?
You are old when kids you coached are now high school administrators
@TP
Finally you get off your duff and get a column written!
I know it’s not football season, but there is other stuff to cover so all us lazy folks that can’t chase down a story can be informed.
Now if Joe can join you, all will be right with the world.
El Monte had no choice but to fire Mc. Good luck to both programs. The rich get richer.
@peterson are the rumors of paramo at Montebello true?
From T. Peterson: Spoke to him today. No. Nothing is confirmed.
Mr. Ball has done a fabulous job raising 3 super duper stars. He should be the next UCLA head coach if Alford quits. He made Chino Hills into the most famous and entertaining team in basketBALL.