Covina Names Ziola

Dale Ziola, shown here at Los Altos after the 2016 CIF Final game, is the new head coach at Covina.

By Tim Peterson

(Covina) – Covina named former Los Altos coach Dale Ziola as its head football coach he confirmed Wednesday.

Ziola spent six seasons at Los Altos guiding the Conquerors to two CIF Championship game appearances before stepping down after the 2016 campaign. Last season he was an assistant at Arroyo after spending a year on the Diamond Bar staff.

Ziola went 48-24 during a six year run at Los Altos including four playoff appearances. He was 8-4 in the post season highlighted by the two CIF Final games. Ziola took over a team that went 0-10 in 2010 and guided the Conqs to an 8-4 record and a second round playoff appearance in his first year.

Ziola led Los Altos to a 13-1 record overall and a Hacienda League title in his final year in 2016. The Conquerors fell to Paraclete 21-14 in the CIF Division 6 Finals. Ziola replaces Joe Brown who stepped down after the regular season.

“I’m ecstatic. Coach Thomas, Coach Brown, and Coach Sheehan (now Dr. Sheehan) have done some great things over there and I’m honored to have the opportunity to build and add to the Covina Colt legacy,” Ziola said. “Superintendent Sheehan, Principal Stratton, and AD Glaspy’s visions align with my principles and I think the sky is the limit. Truly blessed and grateful for the opportunity to work in such a positive educational and supportive community.”

 

 

28 Comments to "Covina Names Ziola"

  1. December 10, 2018 - 8:59 pm | Permalink

    @Pico
    You’re right man. My apologies. I take it back. My frustration is with Rich Melendez and I’ll keep my focus there.

    It’s time for a change. He couldn’t move that ball with a very strong offensive line. He managed to even mess that up we had a major piece on the line quit because the coaches wouldn’t stop arguing with each other. The receivers couldn’t get open they looked like freshman receivers out there. They running backs were talented but just wasted in running those same 4 plays over and over and over again. Rinse wash repeat!! You add up the kids taking a step backwards plus the play calling being atrocious it all equals out to CHANGE we need a change at the OC position. Gallardo can only ride the success of the last two years for so long before people start questioning his decision making after firing arguably the best coach in the league and bringing in a possibly the worst coach!

  2. Pico's Gravatar Pico
    December 10, 2018 - 11:43 am | Permalink

    Go ahead and bash Rich as he is a pos, but don’t bring down the PR Dons with him, he hasn’t coached at the PR Dons in over a decade, he did coach at the wolverines and he was run out of town because of his usual shenanigans. The PR Dons continue to be one of the strongest programs in SGVJAA and no they dont run only 4 plays, I don’t think they have run the Wing-T at PR in years.

  3. December 9, 2018 - 11:44 pm | Permalink

    @anonymous
    We parents do a lot for the team. We feed the team every Wednesday night after practice we call it Family Feed all the parents bring in food and we serve the kids and the coaches to reward them for the hard work. The coaches don’t have to do anything but show up and eat. We set up we serve we clean up. Also any other auxiliary needs we take care of. I’m just asking for my school to do better than a guy straight from Pico Rivera Dons. I’m not sure how good of a program it is these days but we used to smash the dons every year. Anyways my point is it’s a huge jump from any youth program to a varsity program. So can we please bring in an experienced play caller please?????? Is that too much to ask for.

  4. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    December 9, 2018 - 7:28 pm | Permalink

    Get back coach,
    Sorry let me rephrase that. When I say rally the community I mean the SEM community. You’re telling me that this motivated parent (and alumni) can’t bring together parents, alumni, friends, etc? I’ve seen it before. Bring money and support into the program and with it comes better coaching, better equipment, better apparel and memorable moments for the boys. I’ve seen it. And keep in mind I’m a MVL guy and I hated SEM so I’m not here telling you to save them. I’m just telling you parents DO NOT know it all.

  5. December 9, 2018 - 4:36 pm | Permalink

    @thompson
    The things your talking about… Frank Gallardo being inept offensively, absolutely moronic firing Mooney and his choice to replace Mooney with the bad Apple Melendez who has zero experience other than Pico Rivera Dons! We told you this way back when it was announced. Bad decisions are like snowballs rolling down hill they seem small when they start out but they become devastating over time. You said you and your wife knew what plays were coming??? Well if you’ve ever watched a PR Don game that’s all they run is 4 plays. It may work at that level but no way in high school. Even EM who runs the DW, added extra plays to keep teams honest. I could be argued that EM was so good because they added these wrinkles. You mark my words Gallardo will bring this guy back and we’ll be hearing the same stuff next year. Frank isn’t smart enough to read the writing on the wall. His Offense was terribly coached play calling was horrendous and that showed all season. I’ll say it again… the league thanks you for your firing of Mooney.

    @anonymous
    Did you really say… rally the community? Lmfao!!!

  6. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    December 8, 2018 - 8:30 pm | Permalink

    @Thompson,
    Thank you for replying to me. With all your SEM bashing I’m glad you made the time for little ole me. If you’re not a part of the solution, you’re a part of the problem. If you’re so passionate about SEM then why not do something to help? Set up a booster, develop a relationship with the coach, rally the community. Believe it or not, bashing on the blogs will not help your team get better. As good as it feels, it’s worthless. If you’re so passionate about SEM, are you doing everything you can? It takes a village my man.

  7. Half Full's Gravatar Half Full
    December 8, 2018 - 2:41 pm | Permalink

    If you ever want to know what coming up short looks like on a human face, print and frame the picture of Dale holding that runner-up plaque. The man looks as if he’d just as soon use the award as firewood.

  8. December 7, 2018 - 11:25 pm | Permalink

    @anonymous
    Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post. Thanks for the vote of confidence, I like to think I know a lot but I don’t know it all by far. The way you care about the program you root for, I care about my program. Not only did I go there and play there but my son will be a senior next year and he plays there. Also, depending on how this off season goes my son who is 8th grade will probably go there. So it’s pretty important to me. So I’ll keep posting if that’s ok by you.

  9. EM's Gravatar EM
    December 7, 2018 - 8:45 pm | Permalink

    Yea only 7 against EM like besides San Marino and Adelanto guys were putting 40 on them. arroyo 14, MV 14, Gabrielino 7, mead 14, south Pas 6, orange vista 14.

  10. MVL Fan's Gravatar MVL Fan
    December 7, 2018 - 8:39 pm | Permalink

    It’s cause they gave it to a yes man…

  11. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    December 7, 2018 - 6:47 pm | Permalink

    Thompson, first of all no one cares about SEM football. Second of all if anyone actually did, it wouldn’t be on this thread. Third of all WHY DONT YOU COACH? You seem to know it all.

  12. December 7, 2018 - 4:41 pm | Permalink

    Continuing with the theme of head coaches bringing in new Offensive coordinators, I’m hoping and waiting for the day I get to read the headline “South El Monte names fill in the blank as the new OC at the swamp.” Look it’s pretty clear Frank Gallardo struggles with the offensive side of the ball. Remember, pre mike Mooney the offense was just as bad as it was this past season. We were Lost, undisciplined and without a plan. It’s not a coincidence. Then the 2 years with MM, the SEM teams broke a lot of long standing school records offensively and also had two semi finals appearances. The offensive struggles were seemingly over. Then for still unknown reasons Frank Gallardo fires Mike Mooney. The offense reverts back to mediocrity. This all with an upper classman in all 5 spots on the offensive line and good young talent at the skill spots. We fell back to pre MM and the offense was putrid most nights. We were again Lost, undisciplined and without a plan. My wife knew what plays were coming for crying out loud. Id like to make the point The Eagles only beat one team with a winning record all season. We need a change! We only put up 7 points vs El Monte!!! SEVEN! that in it of itself warrants a change. So Frank Gallardo, if he’s gonna stay needs to understand his limitations and play to his strengths! hire an OC who can handle the duties. Someone who has more than just the PR dons under his belt. Someone who can utilize the abundance of weapons returning, Someone who will take a giant look at our personnel and can formulate a great plan of attack. Not just run 4 plays and hope they work! Someone who isn’t gonna have shouting matches with the HC on the sidelines week in and week out would be nice, Someone who isn’t gonna blame the kids for his short comings week in and week out and Maybe someone who can do 10 push ups without falling over would be a plus. And for goodness sakes bring back Marcos Lopez Sr to the SEM staff!

  13. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    December 7, 2018 - 9:28 am | Permalink

    Yea, pretty true. Your talking about league titles with Charter Oak. That was ALWAYS a givin for them. The slide for Charter Oak is starting. My guess is big Lou really missed those coaches that went to Glendora. With many neighboring schools doing well like South Hills, Glendora, Bonita, Northview, San Dimas, it looks like the downfall is beginning. Charter Oak is gonna start losing those stud kids they would always get. Just like what’s happening to West Covina. Good coaches also need good players.

    Ziola to Covina though is pretty interesting. What guy are they getting, the one that turned Los Altos around? Or the coach that went 0-10 at Diamond Bar after he left Los Altos? Yea, he wasn’t the head coach but he was still on staff. I’m sure he had some say in that coaches office at Diamond Bar. Just remember people, good coaches need good players too. Time will tell, Covina has some good senior talent coming back next season. They were supposed to be great this past year, but failed miserably. Was it coaching? Or was it the players?

  14. @ Insider's Gravatar @ Insider
    December 6, 2018 - 11:23 pm | Permalink

    The very fact that you are saying Charter Oak will “compete for a league title” indicates how low the bar sits for this once-stellar organization. Farrar’s kids have been the gold standard of Covina-area football practically forever, and now they have become fodder for excuse-makers. It is embarrassing and pathetic.

  15. Insider's Gravatar Insider
    December 6, 2018 - 7:35 pm | Permalink

    Charter oak will be fine. 3 starting linemen coming back and their frosh and soph classes are loaded. Loaded. They will compete for league title. They are bigger than charter oak and have ridiculous talent. 4 guys got hurt and they played 3 freshmen.

  16. LA Homer's Gravatar LA Homer
    December 6, 2018 - 3:25 pm | Permalink

    All outsiders just assumed Ziola recruited but if they knew or played for him most of the kids were local meaning LP, Workman, Bassett and HH that wanted to play for LA he just got a great poll of kids, he might get kids at Covina just based on his name if not he will do a good job with what he has.

  17. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    December 6, 2018 - 2:55 pm | Permalink

    Sgv outsider, Robles inherited a loaded squad and regressed. I doubt an off season does anything but continue to expose him and his self promoting self.

  18. Sgv outsider's Gravatar Sgv outsider
    December 6, 2018 - 10:50 am | Permalink

    Being a little harsh there in Coach Robles. He didn’t have a full off season to prepare. He showed up in the summer. Let’s see what he can do now with a full off season and revamped staff

  19. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    December 6, 2018 - 9:45 am | Permalink

    Dang I thought Jude was the front runner for this job too

  20. Former LA Admin's Gravatar Former LA Admin
    December 6, 2018 - 8:39 am | Permalink

    @ ?
    Unless he’s learned some new tricks during his 2yr hiatus from HC, Covina did not get a recruiter. In 6 years at LA, he had 6 kids transfer in, 4 of which were Newton kids who tried their luck at Amat before coming back to their home school… those are hardly the numbers of a head-hunter. There were certainly kids from the LP/Wilson/Workman quads, but they choiced-in entering 9th grade, and I believe that is what every school wants to happen with ALL of their programs

  21. ?'s Gravatar ?
    December 6, 2018 - 12:33 am | Permalink

    With Charter Oak and West Covina headed down Ziola will be head hunting transfers and recruits in the morning. Covina got what they clearly wanted.

  22. No Mystery's Gravatar No Mystery
    December 5, 2018 - 11:47 pm | Permalink

    It’s not hard to imagine why Mountain View turned Dale down: it’s the EXACT SAME REASON Los Altos let him get away: Ziola is a guy who won’t be dictated to, and both schools wanted a virtual puppet.

  23. NHS's Gravatar NHS
    December 5, 2018 - 11:34 pm | Permalink

    Well looking back on it Nogales and Mt View both made big mistakes. Mt View and Nogales are definitely trending in the wrong direction. Mt View 3 wins and Nogales go from two back to back 10 win seasons to 500 season and losing to Gladstone.

  24. December 5, 2018 - 7:01 pm | Permalink

    Covina makes a splash hiring Ziola. Hard to imagine but Ziola was turned down last year for a few jobs examples are Nogales and at Mt View… yes our lowly mt view Vikings turned him down. Can you believe that? 3 wins later I think the Vikings might regret that choice. DZ most recently coached receivers for Arroyo this past season. Valle Vista continues to bring in quality coaches.

  25. Hearty Congratulations's Gravatar Hearty Congratulations
    December 5, 2018 - 6:23 pm | Permalink

    With this hire, Covina will not have to look for a replacement offensive coordinator in twelve months. In these timid times, that’s a really big deal.

  26. LA fan's Gravatar LA fan
    December 5, 2018 - 6:12 pm | Permalink

    So this means that Dale did not want to coach at Los Altos but he still wanted to coach football. I think it’s time for the AD and the principal at Los Altos to go because you know he’s a good coach and he did not want to coach with those guys. That’s what happens when the AD and principal start listening to the parents, we end up with all this football talent and no good coaches to lead these young men. Los Altos is a blue print on how not to run your program.

  27. Football FanA's Gravatar Football FanA
    December 5, 2018 - 5:36 pm | Permalink

    Love the hire!!! That first game against Los altos next year is going to be very interesting!!!!

  28. San Dimas Fanatic's Gravatar San Dimas Fanatic
    December 5, 2018 - 5:00 pm | Permalink

    Wow! What a great hire! I’m happy for Covina but crap the road gets tougher for SD. Regardless, iron sharpens iron. I think the circumstances might be perfect for him at Covina.

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