By Tim Peterson
(El Monte) – Joshua Knight, who spent the last two years as an assistant at Arroyo, has turned down the head coaching job at El Monte.
Rumors were running rampant that Knight was going to be named the head coach at El Monte as early as last night. Multiple sources said it was a done deal. And although Knight did have interest he ultimately decided that it wasn’t the right fit and set the record straight Thursday.
“I decided to pass on it at this time,” Knight said early Thursday morning. “I just don’t think it’s a good situation for me.”
Meanwhile the coaching search continues for the Lions as they look for a replacement for Eric MacIntyre who stepped down after one year. Last year the Lions went 6-5 overall (4-2 in the Mission Valley League) and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Boron.
All the schools in El Monte union high school district could have the equal amount of students. The district could easily remake the boundaries. Obviously they don’t want to. They feel that it would be an embarrassment if Mt. View beats Arroyo in football. One way to keep that going is by enrollment. The last time Mt View beat Arroyo in football was in 1980. Too make things worse the district added South El Monte when they did not need to. This pulled kids from Mt View, El Monte and Rosemead all lost students to SEM. Arroyo stay the same big school. Now we got lower enrollment where 15 teachers will retire and no replacement for them. Finally, in the coming years Arroyo will get strong and the lower enrollment with make the other schools in the district weaker.
@Anon
Hate to tell you,but the Arroyo staff could take your kids and beat Arroyo with them.
Who cares, it’s not like knight is some guru. Arroyo staff is so overrated. They get the cream of the crop, and win because of that. Not because those coaches are so great. The fact that EM hired this guy so fast says a lot about their desperation.
I would still like to know how we know Mr Knight turned down the job on Wednesday afternoon?
Kinda weird that he and another coach toured the campus, yet he still hadn’t accepted the job? I’m starting to lean to the other side here.
T. Peterson, believe me when I tell you: A school district would not submit a name to be approved by the board if applicant had not accepted an offer. Knight had to have initially accepted the job. But in the end, if he had a change of heart, who are we to judge. And for those coaches that “tell [you] they were “board approved” only to not take the job…”, most likely are giving you “alternative facts”.
From T. Peterson: All we know is at sometime last Weds the EM principal offered Knight the job. We know that Knight and one of his coaches met the AD Weds for a tour. Does anyone buy a car because of the the picture they see in an ad? No! you go down there, look at it closer and drive it. Apparently this test drive didn’t go well and Knight declined the offer to the AD. Only he knows really why. At the end of the day the issue some have is with the timing of him declining the job and it being on the board report. Question for all you CSI’s out there. If Knight told the EM AD he didn’t want the job Weds afternoon, which we know is a fact. Why was it still allowed on the board report that night? The meeting was 3 hours later! Their principal put it on the board report, in 3 hours she couldn’t pull it off? Even if Knight accepted the job, sent thank you roses and then changed his mind. The AD had 3 hours to tell her principal Knight said no and to get it off the report.
Will everybody please consider this. Mr Oliva left San Gabriel under some very suspicious circumstances. There was an allegation of monies and equipment missing (never confirmed). The football program budget was left in the red and from the looks of it they are still trying to recover. Also let’s face it, the cupboards were bare no JV team and a perfect time to bounce. As I think I have read somewhere before the rats jump off the ship first. So will you PLEASE stop!!!!!!!!! With the bring Jude back. He is on to bigger and better. He would need at least 10 years and a few bucks to pay back in order to get San Gabriel to be relevant again.
Gladstone and Pioneer are not bad places. Both have on campus positions. Both pay well. Both created great teaching situations for the coaches. Sure they don’t get a lot of talent but Albert did a great job when he was at Gladstone. Citos messed up. Willig basically can do no wrong and they don’t win. Not bad places to work.
Cantwell lets the current staff, Jason, do whatever, not that anyone cares, but that is good for a coach. Salesian….. who knows. They have talent but don’t know much about coaching at a private school.
But we can always debate the worst. But agree, El Monte and Wilson might be the worst two. Wilson has been a mess since Oviedo stepped down.
I would add Gladstone, Cantwell,Salesian, and Bosco Tech. John Glenn and Pioneer.
Ok let’s have some fun, top 5 worst coaching jobs:
5) Marshall – district/school doesn’t care and no on campus
4) Blair – see Marshall
3) San Gabriel/ workman – admin has no clue, just hire Jude, a couple assistants and stay out of his way. No on campus at workman and pretty poor district
2) El Monte – see all the previous posts. Principal is really the problem. Just hire a good coach and let him coach, and not do anything stupid in the classroom
1) Wilson HH – ad is a mess. Has no idea and because he is book smart (ap science) principal actually listens to him. The coach who just left actually was doing a good job but again no teaching job (again poor district that’s why dale stepped down at LA)
@MVL
Just out curiosity… how do we know for a fact he declined the job on Wednesday afternoon? Not doubting you just curious
EM is on their 3rd (now 4th) football coach in 3 years and that is all the coaches fault? Look at how the Sanchez & MacIntyre situations were handled and you still blame coaches? EM rushed the entire process to get it to the board in April and not have to wait until May. They had 4 months of planning these interviews, the applicants had 6 days. All we know is at sometime last Weds the EM principal offered Knight the job. We know that Knight and one of his coaches met the AD Weds for a tour. Does anyone buy a car because of the the picture they see in an ad? No! you go down there, look at it closer and drive it. Apparently this test drive didn’t go well and Knight declined the offer to the AD. Only he knows really why. At the end of the day the issue some have is with the timing of him declining the job and it being on the board report. Question for all you CSI’s out there. If Knight told the EM AD he didn’t want the job Weds afternoon, which we know is a fact. Why was it still allowed on the board report that night? The meeting was 3 hours later! Their principal put it on the board report, in 3 hours she couldn’t pull it off? Even if Knight accepted the job, sent thank you roses and then changed his mind. The AD had 3 hours to tell her principal Knight said no and to get it off the report. As for this delay hurting El Monte and helping other in the MVL. They had 4 months to find a guy!!! Whose fault is that? Sanchez, MacIntyre, Oliva or Knight? EM waited until about 8 hours before the final board meeting before spring ball to offer the job, and they wonder why this fell apart?
@Anon
This is a response to this: El Monte High School hasn’t won a game since The CIF Championship game in 1930 6-0 vs. Cathedral……..
Hey Anonymous, Niether has Cathedral
El Monte High School hasn’t won a game since The CIF Championship game in 1930 6-0 vs. Cathedral.
OMG! This love affair with arroyo is a bit over the top don’t you think? It’s getting rather pathetic. remember these are the same coaches that turned a blind to some of the most egregious actions I’ve ever heard of, so forgive me if I don’t bow in worship. But let me try and break this down for you Arroyo groupies. As much as you might not want hear it, I do know quite a bit about the hiring process of EMUHSD. EM took Mr Knights name for board approval because he accepted the position. No job in the EMUHSD is ever brought before the board because someone hopes that person would take the job lol. Or they want a prospect to consider the job…Doesn’t work that way. He accepted the job then bailed period end of story. Now if you tell me he said yes then changed his mind I’ll take that but that’s not what you groupies are saying are you. You’re saying EM just randomly submitted his name lol.. seriously guys. Bottom line EM is screwed. More so than it already was. Shady things happening just saying…
Coach Cab from LS should take the job after all he’s the self proclaimed “BEST AROUND”…comedy
Blame whoever you want but the man has a right to decide not to take a job. It’s his life not everyone else’s. He never took the job and he is already being criticized. Poor guy leave him alone. Talk to the principal and ridicule her or the board for putting in his approval when he never said yes. Get a life people.
@Jabroni,
Your name fits you perfectly. Where Do you get off attacking anyone for turning down a job. Do you even know Coach Knight ? If you did you wouldn’t be saying the idiotic things you think are facts. I don’t know what world you live in but in the real world it’s very common for people to turn down jobs that they’ve been offered. It’s called negotiating. Just because someone says the job is yours doesn’t mean you except the terms. That’s when you begin negotiating pay, coaches stipends, etc. I’m sure these things are lost on you since you live in fantasyland. Do all of us a favor, stop bad mouthing people you know nothing about and worry about your on life. I’m willing to bet you have your own issues to deal with. Jabroni !!!!!
The right thing to do was take an interview ask questions and if it wasn’t the right fit then remove your name from consideration. That didn’t happen here. He went through the process and accepted. If you ask anyone from EM they’ll tell you they had their man. Board approved is merely a formality both sides said “yes” EM was left at the alter
From T. Peterson: You’re hearing what EM wants you to hear.
Mr Peterson
All due respect… you’re hearing Knight wants you to hear. Are you telling me that any school would submit a name for board approval who hadn’t yet accepted the job?
If you believe that air, I’ve got some great magic beans for sale.
From T. Peterson: Of course they would. They had to see if the board would accept. I’ve had several coaches tell me they were “board approved” only to not take the job.
Milvon James is bad news. Hawkins High School was in Trouble for Academics the last three year’s. The two Kids that are going to USC from Hawkins are going to The right Place. No Homework or No Classroom Attendence for SC Football and Basketball Players.
Not classless? Hmmm… let’s see, before they submit his name to the board for approval he had to accept the job, correct? As I hear he accepted two weeks ago. Furthermore when he submitted his name one can assume he wants the job. Through the interview process he pitched his ideas for the program. Through this month long process not once did it don on him about the cons of this job? We trash 17 and 18 year olds for backing out of their commitments to a university but we can’t trash a 40 year old man for interviewing for the job, accepting the job, getting board approved for the job then backing out of it. No sir that is the definition of classless if you ask me. Also as I hear he only turned it down after he couldn’t convince a couple Arroyo coaches to follow him.
From T. Peterson: I’d agree with you if you were correct but your “facts” are all wrong. He didn’t accept two weeks ago. In fact he never accepted. Not sure where you got that one. Bad sources. You always learn more about a school or program through the interview process- umm that’s why you interview. Obviously he didn’t like what he saw or heard. I’ve never trashed a 17/18 year old kid for changing their mind. They’re 17 and 18 years old! Of course they’re going to. You “hear” he couldn’t get Arroyo coaches to join him. You “heard” wrong. Again bad sources. You needed a front row seat like I had. There’s several reasons why he turned it down- all valid. First time I’ve ever heard the word “classless” to describe somebody turning down a job. Weird.
@in the know aka can’t spell
I don’t mind you having a go with me but could you please use another word besides cancer? There are many people who really suffer from the disease and it isn’t a funny punchline. Open a dictionary I’m sure you can pull out a bunch of different words that you can use to replace cancer. Also while you’re there, look up the correct spelling for a former student from an institution… then get back to us.
You know what, I was going to comment, started to write about it, then said nah. That school is getting what it has developed. You reap what you sow.
Looks like the shine is off the apple as far as the allure of being a head football coach. To many wasted hours,days,weeks,months,years and life.
@Really is on to something here… J Knight was already board approved… wow. Classless thing to do Mr. Knight sounds like you had an agenda the whole time.
From T. Peterson: Not classless at all. Doesn’t matter if he was board approved. He still had to accept it and he decided not to. It’s his choice. Knight thought it over and decided it’s not the right situation. I understand it completely.
HH Wilson is looking for a new head coach, there coach stepped down and is rumored to be an assistant coach at Cal.
Sanchez at El monte is a bad thing for any head coach . Guy should never make one opinion ever. The new coach need to go in there with some huevos and demand that he doesn’t get involved, talks to him to tell his smart DELETED to shut it even in gossip, so it doesn’t confuse and revolt kids, If he backstabs he should be sued by new coach or like the old days see you at 3 in the parking lot
More drama like always. People need to figure it out. The AD mcarty needs to open her eyes. All sports have so many issues. Why it doesn’t need to be that way. I am tired of the way they run EM. My daughter hates it but she loves sports. Hmmm
Two Issues
1. Why would you, as a coach, formally, take the time to apply for a head coaching position, and willingly know all the scuttlebutt that is going on with the administration, the ex-coaches, the parents and players from the Lions and then have the EMUHSD Board of Directors approve you and then turn it down because it is not a good situation?
2. So, is Knight back at Arroyo? If so, then doesn’t this look like a conspiracy to delay El Monte from getting a coach? Why, because now the school does not have a qualified coach and the EMUHSD Board approval is not until May. Maybe its a way to see if they can get some more transfers to Arroyo since they will be in a higher division this coming season?
Just a thought!
Tin I mean Aaron Sepulveda not that new guy at keppel.
Two Issues
1. Why would you, as a coach, formally, take the time to apply for a head coaching position, and willingly know all the scuttlebutt that is going on with the administration, the ex-coaches, the parents and players from the Lions and then have the EMUHSD Board of Directors approve youand then turn it down because it is not a good situation for him?
2. So, is Knight back at Arroyo? If so, then doesn’t this this looks like a conspiracy to delay El Monte from getting a coach. Because now the school does not have a qualified coach and the EMUHSD Board approval is not until May. Maybe its a way to see if the can get some more transfers to Arroyo since they will be in a higher division this coming season?
Just a thought!
@SGV tradition, It’s not the Principal, you ass!!!! She supported Coach Mac and his staff. One just has to look down the hallway to former head coach, Sanchez. He’s still at the school and is a cancer to the program. And to Lions Roar, stick to your Alumnae duties, you are also a cancer.
Maybe Knight was romantically involved with the EM principal and a love spat caused the walk-away. Almost nothing else could explain board approval and then a change of mind.
Knight would be a good fit. Knows football and is good with his students. Sad he didn’t take the job. Back to the drawing board Torres. Figure it out you’re the problem notbthe coaches or new hires. Nobody likes you. Now Jude will be back in the mix after he said no earlier in the week. They should have a writen up on him lol.
Milvon James has had great success at Hawkins HS. But if he was released not only as a coach, but also as an employee from LAUSD, along with his brother (who was his assistant); there are some serious undertones that were happening there. In the City Section many coaches forfeit games because there is a real disconnect with AD’s and Head Coaches with paperwork. Now when LAUSD gets involved (City- CIF is now its own entity) and terminates your employment, you’re not likely to become the new HC anywhere soon in the Southern California area.
Go after El Monte Jets coaches.
Milvon give a lot of kids from the inner city a chance to go to college for free and play football what’s wrong with that
The kids and the school has their beloved coach Sanchez to thank for all this drama. If it wasn’t for him coach Mac will still be there building a strong young team. Sad to see a former coach so pathetically trying to runie another coach career. Probably mad that coach Mac was able to win and develop players and not win just off talent.
@ Cathedral K, i agree with you on Tuttle however he has a good PE teaching position at Keppel (priority #1). Im not sure EM can offer that.
Wow go on the district website he was board approved Wednesday night. Something must have happened. Or he realized he was going to have to work for that devil of a principal. All moral is just gone from a once pride school. Wake up people and get her out of there. EM has good kids and they deserve better.
Nobody wants to go coach El Monte because all the fans do is complain.
My bad Spathais was a Mountain View grad
How about Alumni Hector Spathais I pretty sure he could get Jerry Urias on board
E Mac has gotta laughing his *** off man.
Sad situation. In terms of flat out talent El Monte is only second to Arroyo but for some reason that doesn’t equate to wins. One league title in 40 years is a joke. Coach Mac is looking better everyday. Heard he’s at South El Monte as a position coach. Which is like throwing salt in the wound. Haha
The embarrassing hits just keep on coming I tell ya.
It’s almost funny like it isn’t real man Hollywood couldn’t write this stuff.
What about the Keppel coach
This is going to continue to be an ongoing outcome at El Monte. With the reputation it now has for its coaches and the support from staff why would anyone wanna be a coach there?
If this is what football is moving towards, I’m done.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-vi-hawkins-football-20170214-story.html
Go get Milvon James former Hawkins head coach will bring a lot of d-1 talent in
How about the guy that left Temple City?