Tim Peterson
By Tim Peterson
With the off season comes the annual coaching changes. There have been five coaches locally who have either resigned or have been fired so far and counting.
One coach told me that this is just the beginning. After the holidays, after coaches have had time to think about it, and when weight training and other off season regimens are set to begin, several other coaches are expected to announce they are through.
It’s not surprising. As has been written numerous times before, the hours are long and the pay is short. The old spanish phrase, “mucho trabajo pero poquito dinero” comes into play. Coaching high school football is a 12 month a year job now – no rest for the weary. Oh I guess you could take a couple of months off, but that will put you and your team at a disadvantage to the guys that are working the whole year.
So when you hear the news that another coach has stepped down or the administration has decided to “go in a different direction” it’s not really earth shattering. One move that was surprising was the resignation of Victor Romero at Mt. View. That he stepped down wasn’t surprising, Romero had been the head coach at Mt. View for six years without a playoff appearance, but his comments after he resigned were.
Romero, who used to go by the last name Ambruso but changed it last year to take his adopted father’s name, is the happiest coach I’ve ever spoken to after a resignation. Usually a coach that is leaving will cite lack of support from the admin, not enough talent or simply burnout as the reason that he decided to call it quits. Romero didn’t talk about any of that. In fact it was just the opposite.
“I want everybody to know how great it is at Mt. View. it’s never been better. I’ve been so blessed to have had the opportunity to coach here for the last six years,” Romero said. It’s true the Vikings haven’t won but Romero feels it has nothing to do with talent. “I feel we have as much talent as anybody in the league. The new guy that comes in is going to be a in a great situation.”
Romero went on to say again how great the administration was and how he loved the school. In fact he will still remain on campus as a teacher and will still be there for the kids. So of course the next question was “Ok, then why resign?”
“I wish I had the answer as to why I was stepping down. I just feel it’s a good time, the best way to pass the whistle,” Romero added.
Well, okay then. Best of luck coach and we hope to see the Vikes in the playoffs real soon.
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Note to the next person who tells me that Diamond Bar’s Kevin Argumosa didn’t resign, but was fired or “forced to resign.” The information I was given was that he stepped down so that’s all I can go with. Sure, when you go 0-10 firing the coach would seem to be a logical conclusion. But until the Diamond Bar administration (AD or Principal) or Argumosa himself tells me otherwise, he resigned. That’s the scoop I was given.
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Actually I thought the news that Kevin Pearson stepped down at Cathedral would create even more of a buzz than it did. Sure the story took hits and a few comments (41 so far) but I thought it would completely blow up the site and it really hasn’t. Did you know that when Pearson first took over as HC of the Phantoms, they were in Division 12? You have to give him credit for putting Cathedral on the map and making the school relevant. My only question to Pearson is “Why resign now?” You were four wins away from 200!
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It will be interesting to see which way Pomona goes after Keith Richardson was let go. I told Wardell Crutchfield he should apply for the position but he shut me down quickly. “No, I’m retired for good,” he said.
Seems like retiring is popular these days. When do I get to hang up the clipboard? I must have missed that memo. But I can’t do that yet. I’d miss all of the coaching changes.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.
Monrovia needs tonget a young coach to rebuild the program, Chou and his regime needs to go. It Chou stays you can put a fork in Wildcats football, no way they win League Championship in a week Rio Hondo League
@ Anonymous: I’ll tell you what I know. I’ll preface my remarks by saying that both Zion Babb and Anthony Brown attended AHS—and played football for the Moors—from the time they were freshmen.
Babb played in a couple of varsity games his freshman year (in 2003) and then led the team in receptions and receiving yards from his sophomore season on.
Brown, a running back, played three full seasons on the varsity (from 2005 to ’07); he rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of those years.
I’ve never heard of an issue regarding Babb’s residency until now, when you brought it up. I’d always assumed that the Babb family lived in Alhambra.
As you probably know, Zion’s younger brother, Lance, spent his entire high school football career as a wide receiver at Schurr.
So, I’ll have to admit that I really don’t know what the scoop is there.
Somebody (possibly another player’s father) complained to me during Brown’s senior year that Brown should’ve been attending San Gabriel High instead. The man claimed that Brown got to enroll at AHS because San Gabriel didn’t have a wrestling team at the time.
According to this individual, the catch was that Brown hadn’t done any wrestling for Alhambra up to that point.
Arthur Brown, who I believe is Anthony’s younger brother, did play for the San Gabriel Matadors’ varsity team later on. He was also a good player.
That’s all the info I have on those guys.
From T. Peterson: Anthony Brown and Arthur Brown aren’t related.
@ron we all know that Zion Babb, Anthony brown and company did not live in Alhambra and should be attending another school but Gil got them in.
@ Anon: Coach Ruedaflores ran the AHS football program for 21 years; I worked with him during his last seven seasons.
I heard a few comments of that nature, almost entirely after the fact. (That is, after Gil’s retirement in late 2009.)
Gil’s a nice guy, and I never encountered any issues with him personally. In addition, I cannot independently confirm the accuracy of those statements, which were made by people who were outside the program.
Gil’s successor, former assistant Lou Torres, was an excellent coach who was, in my opinion, more consistent in enforcing player discipline.
I’ve always considered it strange that Torres was quietly forced out not only after just two years, but also following a 9-3 season which included an appearance in the Division XI quarterfinals.
The issue you brought up could have been one of several possible factors that led to Torres’ departure as head coach.
But, I can’t say it with any certainty. There was a significant amount of behind-the-scenes infighting going on at the time, so it might’ve been any number of things.
If school administrators, led by then-principal Brad Walsh, were trying to “improve” the football culture at AHS, they swung-and-missed badly with disastrous coaching hires in 2012 and early ’13.
I believe that current principal Duane Russell made a positive move in hiring Eric Bergstrom as head coach in July 21013, but it’s been a struggle. I’m not going to lie to you about that.
However, I’m looking forward to next season. We have some talent, so there should be reason for hope.
@ron Alhambra was bending the rules during the Gil era, some of the kids on those Alhambra teams were from surrounding areas and should not be going to Alhambra high
@ Moor: Milvon James and his rule-bending, rule-breaking act will never get in the door at Alhambra High. His Hawkins High School team in LAUSD had to forfeit multiple games and vacate a City Section championship because of academic violations.
This sort of conduct won’t fly at AHS. We want to win, but I’d be mortified if our school administration ever chooses to go down that path.
Milvon come to Alhambra and bring those transfers in
@ Special Treatment: Tim Peterson is a reliable guy, and I’m sure that he has multiple sources of information besides me.
My previous comment was just my way of saying that I won’t participate in making such an announcement, should the occasion ever arise. It would be an unprecedented act on my part, and it’s not my way of doing things.
Why would we need to have an Eric Bergstrom exit announced by a district press release? Can we not rely on Tim Peterson to get the facts right?
Milvon James and his brother will be the new head coach and oc at Long Beach poly
@ Tim Peterson: If it were to happen any time soon, my inclination would be to let a more highly paid PR person at the district office make that announcement (or write that press release).
Coach Bergstrom will almost certainly continue teaching at Alhambra High, regardless of whether he’s still running the football program.
I can tell you, from my first-hand experience as a substitute, that he enjoys working with his English and physical education students. Coach Bergstrom is a solid teacher, in my opinion.
I’d be surprised if he gave up coaching at this particular time, but whatever happens on the football side will be between him and the school administration.
@ Anonymous: Not to my knowledge.
From T. Peterson: Let me know if he does.
Is Eric stepping down at Alhambra
I would think the reason midvalley hasn’t had a bunch of comments on Pearson “stepping down” is because it’s always the cathedral faithful that lives on these comments. Maybe that’s why in 22 years they couldn’t win the big one, spent to much time commenting and not enough time coaching.
Also one key LONG TIME area assistant coach who is retiring is Coach Roger Wright of Arcadia High, who is our defensive line and head JV Coach who now will remain as a part-/half-time locker room attendant until the conclusion of this school year. He is an AHS 1967 alumni and has coached our Apache Indians Youth Football team from 1978 before returning to his alma mater in 1985 to become then sophomore head football coach for then Coach Dick Salter and has been a main stay since then. Coach Wright, thank you for your 40 years (with 33 of them here at AHS) of coaching. Arcadia High and Arcadia Football would not be the same without you. We will all greatlt miss you and wish you nothing but the best in your retirement. No APACHES Down, Once an Apache, Always an Apache, and APACHES forever! Thank you Coach Wright, Merry Christmas to all here.
Head coach because they love the game and competition. Why else? Not $$. Get to run a club of athletes; loved sports whole life and do not want to stop. $ not important. Romero almost made playoffs a couple times but defense just could not do it. Plenty of points scored, but D is name of game. Only 4 playoff berths in about 47 years; and not since about Alonzo around 2000? when will school advertise it in CIF Coaches wanted? Or do they bring up on campus coach that has been assisting?
Antonio Pierce is out at LB Poly. I expect to hear, in the coming weeks, that Raul Lara is back in at that school.
With 5 down there will be 32 more football head coaching changes in the Mid Valley coverage area.
Coaching football is like a second job. Full time teacher then afternoons practice. There probaly a lot of guys out there that can be great coaches but why when get paid pennies compared to Texas high school coaches.