La Salle HC Russell Gordon stepping down was just one of 21 head coaching changes on the local front.
By Tim Peterson
There have been no less than 21 head coaching changes since the 2017 season came to an end. And that’s just on the local front. All but four have been filled.
Here’s what we have so far as we head into spring:
Cantwell: Out – Travis Brown, In – TBD
Nogales: Out-Richard Salazar, In – TBD
Bassett: Out- Chris Long, In- TBD
Baldwin Park: Out- Joe Fuller, In- Joshua Knight
Monrovia: Out-Jerry Chou, In- Chris Williams
Valley Christian: Out- Woodie Grayson, In- Stephen Kelley
Glendora: Out- Jerry Lewallen, In- Brandon Rohrer
Buena Park: Out- Davis Lowery, In- Dustin Sober
La Salle: Out – Russell Gordon, In – Andrew Pankow
Burroughs: Out- Mike Reily, In- Rand Holdren
Whittier Christian: Out- Sergio Gradilla, In- Brett Esslinger
Maranatha: Out – Steve Bogan, In -LaVar Arrington
Steve Bogan left Maranatha for Bonita.
Rancho Cucamonga: Out- Nick Baiz, In- Mark Verti
Cathedral: Out- Kevin Pearson, In- Anthony Jefferson
Mt. View: Out- Victor Romero, In-Aaron Sepulveda
Glendale: Out- George Maiale, In- Cary Harris
Diamond Bar: Out- Kevin Argumosa, In- Jeff Reitz
Bonita: Out – Ibis Aguilar, In -Steve Bogan
Pomona: Out – Keith Richardson, In – TBD
Bellflower: Out- Mike Fitch, In- Woodie Grayson
Viewpoint: Out-Brent Huff, In-Patrick Skahan
*If we missed any feel free to let us know.
3-7
Why don’t you tell us actual reasons why they are no good, do they return no one? Are their lower levels void of talent, do they have a qb or rb, or a line etc? being butt hurt over getting dog walked isn’t a good reason to talk smack about a team.
Talking where? You realize Montebello has lost like 14/15 of the last games played vs ER right? Montebellos only good player returning is now up the hill..
@valley for you to say that Northview has had these types of athletes before Comstock and has done nothing shows you obviously are clueless to the Northview program. Please name the stud athletes they had before Comstock and still struggled to do anything in the Valley Vista league? But you are right on one thing, having a great QB does a lot for a program. I agree with you there. But just remember, Burns had UNDER 100 yards throwing against Northview last season. Let that sink in. It’s going to be a dog fight between Northview, San Dimas, and Covina.
@99er
You’re giving SH way too much credit before they even play a game in the Hacienda. On what basis are your putting them in 2np place in the Hacienda already? Can you justify this please?
Hey northview. You are correct, the two brothers might play on Saturday. Too bad for Pasadena high lol. Why leave Pasadena to go to northview? I don’t get it. But I’ll say this. Northview always has had those types of kids and have done nothing till comstock. Just saying. It’s all about the Qb and burns is darn good. That area will find linemen. So northview, with all your returners, I predict u will battle for 2nd.
@Friday Knights,
Yes Ceniseros is notorious for transfers. Notorious for them transferring out of his schools and somewhere else because they don’t want to play in that offense. Just ask the Don Lugo receivers. If the MVL is a backyard league then Arroyo is winning because they own the biggest chunk of the backyard so I wouldn’t be so razzled by one transfer.
@FlyEaglesFly,
Nice analysis but a 4.5 40? I don’t think people understand how fast a 4.5 40 really is. If there is a RB in the MVL that is that fast and he plays for SEM then the Eagles should have no problem going undefeated in league. Sure it’s not a one man game but when one man is that much faster than the rest of the league then he’ll shine like no other and he would be getting legit D-1 looks. I’m not saying you’re lying but I am says that I think some people can unknowingly exaggerate.
Any word on the all star game dates and times
El Monte returns a lot also bringing in a transfer runningback should be tough. The MVL may as well be called the backyard league so I wonder how the league will react to transfers (ceniceros) is infamous for them.
Rosemead returns many off a bad team so does that strike fear in anyone?
I’m gonna be real on Covina, Nin Burns is a good player I think he gets way too much credit for the colts success. Cuellar is good player but the reason Covina was so good was defensively they were stout even with big scores against them they were big and fast and wore on teams. The best part of the colts was their massive offensive line which plowed running and passing lanes for the colts. If they don’t replace those biggies then the colts take a huge step backwards.
I think DR and SH could be flipped. For me it’s more on the coaching. I think top 3 gonna have similar talent.
On ER cause they’re always talking but that’s it. They’re praising themselves over a win over Montebello which is a solid team and wouldn’t happen like that again.
@FootballFan
Covina returns Burns and the Running Back but basically lose everyone else of importance including the offensive line and the whole defense. Northview returns 8 starters on O and 9 starters on D. Northview started a Frosh and Soph at corner last year and they gave up under 100 yards passing to Covina, both of those kids will be playing D1 ball on Saturdays when they are done. Northview will be the heavy favorites to win league.
El Rancho is horrible based on what? Lol
@ 99er, why do you think that will be the order in the Hacienda? Just off recent success or things you’re hearing?
MVL might be a good one this year Arroyo is Arroyo and will be competitive and going for a league title El Monte and Rosemead bring back a lot of their team, South graduates 20+. MV is a tough place to win especially for a guy like Sapulveda. Gab and Marshall need help.
CO, DR, LA and South Hills are going to be in a dog fight weekly. If I had to put them in order it’d be CO, South hills, DR then LA.
Covina and SD go one and two in their league with Northview falling back a little.
Schurr takes another league title not without a batttle against Montebello and BG improves a lot.
Oh and for El Rancho they’re horrible again!
@SoCal,
Arroyo, Colony, Nogales and Pomona have all built in advantages. Arroyo has twice the student body than any school is that league. Colony has the demographics as an inland empire school. Nogales got dropped from the Valle Vista league, should not even be in the league there in. Pomona same as Nogales. Northview and CO could be challenged in there respected leagues because there are too many good teams in those leagues. Northview, SD and Covina will battle. CO, DR, SH and LA will battle. I can’t wait.
It’s going to be a fun season. Will Covina be CIF champs with all that talent returning, does Glendora take the next step forward with their new coach or step backwards, will SD play for more than just league and win a playoff game, does Bonita get SD this year with all that talent or does that talent go to waste, can WC do something this year beside 1-9, is LA going to make a run this year with its one man show, but when it’s all said and done it will be the same cast of characters. CO, Northview, Arroyo, Colony, Nogales, and Pomona all league champs.
Your right coacher, but don’t forget about Covina as they almost return everyone!! These guys are only juniors as well. Covina should be the favorites to win their league for the next few years!!!
Both of them are at Schurr. They are not going to Cantwell. I guarantee that. Been working with the team for the last couple weeks
@FlyEaglesFly Do you know who is replacing Mike Mooney ? Who is the DC and OC ?
SGV fan, I see bait when I see it! Lol
Jude still teaches at Buena Park High School, I doubt he would still teach at Buena Park High School and be the Head Coach at Cantwell. I also doubt Jude would take the pay cut and teach at Cantwell as well as coach.
Can someone please be real… need to know before making a decision on my two nephews.
Who’s coaching at Schurr this year? Who’s Coaching at Cantwell?
Are Oliva and Elias at Schurr or Cantwell… or are they each at one?
I’ve heard two stories and I want to know RIGHT NOW!!
@fridayknights
Thank you for the welcome, You might be right about my optimism but this will be a deep team for the Eagles. I don’t expect it will be easy to replace Sal Tovar no one player is gonna be able to do it… but by committee it is possible if we can get 2, 1000 Yards rushers and 2 others to rush for 5-700 Yards combined, we can achieve that production. The athletes are there as previously mentioned. Arroyo vs SEM has been a fun exciting game the couple of years I expect that to continue to be the case.
@sgv
Arroyo the last three seasons had unusually deep teams. While they always have better talent than the rest of the league but the last few years the depth has been too much to overcome. As for out coaching ehhh I’m not so sure. The last two games vs SEM we’re both close games decided by special teams turnovers freakishly similar both years. Last year specially, The offense took the air out of the ball keeping Arroyos offense off the field holding that prolific offense to under 100 yards passing! When’s the last time that’s happened? I believe that depth advantage is gone or isn’t as wide of a gap. Once you couple that with their QB situation if Camacho isn’t back with Arroyo and someone else steps in the drop off would be huge. But that’s why we play this great game right…. thanks for the response
@flyeagles
Welcome to the blog… hopefully you add another MVL correspondence here to blogosphere.
First off I think you might be a little too optimistic about your SEM team just yet. As you just stated you lost the school record breaking runningback. Those records stood since 1995 and 1998 what that tells me is you don’t get kids like that very often so why you think this next crop of backs will make up for the loss is kind of head scratching. I gotta say this no staff is a better staff without Mike Mooney. So my thinking is the fall won’t be so great but it will be gradual. You are correct in that the Oline will return and yes it will be a strength but who’s calling the offense? Will Gallardo adjust his defense to play without those two safeties Tovar and Olmos? I just don’t see it. Many coaches and observers feel that SEM was a defensive coordinator away from a CIF championship! Arroyo has been tried and tested year after year we just keep rolling. SEM can’t compete with that
South Hills, CO and DRanch is gonna be good.
@Fridayknights
Northview will have one of its best teams next season. Make no mistake Northview loses Comstock but they have crazy talent and can easily be one of the best teams in the valley. Multiple D1 players will be playing for Northview the next couple years.
That’s some in-depth knowledge of the eagles, good info sir. You sure you’re not the head coach? Lol
There are no 4.5 guys in the MVL.
Arroyo doesn’t outcoach everyone, they get the best kids every year.
Interesting to see what happens at MV.
Wow I love your analysis of sem I wish midvalley would have detailed summary of the teams that cause the most traffic on the site example, schurr, Rosemead, Arroyo, San gabriel, Montebello, BG……even jude no body cares if it’s related to football but jude also needs to be analyzed
The Podley- Little mijo era is long gone. Even Medina is gone. As they say “fugget about it”. There are multiple reasons for the demise of Bonita football and Bonita athletics altogether. The biggest reason as I see it was the retirement of principal Ketterling. It turned out his shoes were way to big to fill with the likes of Bubb and his underlings. It took one year to dismantle every program and then he ran away. Like other programs that lose their way it takes time to build back up enthusiasm and pride. I don’t know if the new coach has the energy to turn Bonita around and I have not made any determination on the new principal but the era of Bonita athletics being at the top at nearly every sport is long gone I’m afraid.
@flyeaglesfly
Good team but not ready for the big show with Arroyo… no matter what QB plays for arroyo
went to that game and its just that arroyo out coaches everyone in their league. no true challenge!!
we shall see how the Eagles do right off the bat…
we’ll see how they do against Schurr in their scrimmage. they were destroyed on all levels vs Schurr last year.
@Coach
South El Monte will not miss any beats this season. The Offensive line will be back in its entirety from last year which should be the strength of the team. Anthony Gomez will be an area lineman. Now, the Eagles lose Sal Tovar who set ever rushing record at the school but will replace him with 3 true running backs. JR, Max Luna should have a breakout season. A between the tackles runner who has the speed to House it on any play. Isaiah Medina will be the short yardage guy tough to bring down a fast enough to stretch the defense. 5’10 Marcos Montoya will be the big play kid a legit 4.5 speedster who is in the weight room if he can add some bulk he has all area talent. Also, a wildcard is how fast Sophomore Mario Zamudio can adjust to the speed of the varsity game, He is 5’11 180 pounds and will be an absolute beast. The key should be Anthony Carreon who will be playing QB this season. Anthony has a better arm than departing Daniel Olmos. He can make all the throws. He doesn’t have the speed of his predecessor but he’s 6’2 and runs very hard. Rumor is Frank is putting in an Fast paced option style offense so that should help stretch the field keeping those safeties honest. Plus he’s a big time sack guy from last season so he could be a two way star this season. For the first time in a few seasons the Eagles will also have three (3) legit receivers 6’0 Omar Diaz will be the deep threat he has legit speed and great hands. Gaspar Beltran can do much more than just kick field goals, he can also catch footballs. He’s a quick tough kid who will do just fine replacing Jarvis Godinez. There is plenty of talent to step in and fill the holes. Couple that with an improved coaching staff (Gallardo’s words) I gotta think This is the year they dethrone the Knights and also should be ready for another deep run. I just found this blog this season I have been an Eagles fan for 15 years I love this blog, I look forward to posting all season long.
@SH
You hit it on the head. LA is always gritty and tough. They may not have prototypical playmakers, but they’re always tough and aggressive. They remind me of a smaller Amat. Word on the street is they got some guys coming too. Like you alluded to, that coaching staff can make some things happen with a few more players. Rene Zaldivar (88) is a stud. First Team All Hacienda as a sophomore. We shall see.
Let’s hear which teams are up and coming and who’s down??? In the area
@Chameleon
I agree, Los Altos scares me with that coaching staff. They over achieved last year with that roster, the roster that the former coaching staff did not like at all and step out, but how many athletes do they have. They have no play makers, maybe 88. D Ranch has play maker on there roster and guys coming in, CO always get guys in every year. But your right Los Altos will be in the mix.
Why did Bonita ever start to change? I started to see a major change in the school once they let Medrano go. The rest started to crumble after that. Different superintendent and principal all changed our great community. But I do think a lot of it started by letting Medrano go.
@SH
Eeeeasy, let them play a game first, they’re coming from an inferior league, and going to the Hacienda. Don’t forget about Los Altos, too. SH definitely has their work cut out for them, no doubt.
Who was the prognosticator that said Azusa was going to win league and be ranked in the valley. And said that Diamond Bar and Bonita was going to in the top 10 in the valley. Well that did not happen.
I can tell you one thing, South Hills will be in the mix with CO and Diamond Ranch.
Is Friday Knight going to shut The Frick Up.
Is Sepulveda gonna keep running the double wing?
Is Marshall remaining in tact?
Is SEM really gonna be spread option team?
I think San Dimas and Northview take steps backwards this season
Pomona Glen Gates
From Southeast high school located in Southgate
Wow, is this about the 17th job that Jude has taken in the last 5 years? Anon, you are really a great prognosticator!
Can’t-Do Anthing-Well
heard that the two coaches they wanted at the “well” decided to take/stay elsewhere
Which other schools not on this list still don’t have a coach?
You have to be a complete moron to take The Cantwin Job.
I speak for the entire football community when I say that we’re breathing again, thanks to anonymous telling us about Jude to Cantwell. If that rumor craps out, we’ll be equally breathless waiting for his next revelation.
Jude going to take the Cantwell job. Take it to the bank.