2018 Mid Valley Coach of the Year: Matt Bechtel – South Hills

Matt Bechtel led South Hills to the CIF Championship. He is our 2018 Coach of the Year.

Everybody thought South Hills was going to be better in 2018. The Huskies were coming off a 9-2 season, had several key players returning and looked to be ready to turn a corner in head coach Matt Bechtel’s third year. But this good?

The Huskies were near perfect. In fact take away a State playoff game loss to Lawndale after South Hills had already won the CIF Division 6 Championship and it was a perfect season.

The Huskies rolled through the regular season and Hacienda League play wrapping up league with a 23-6 win over Charter Oak October 26. Then they beat Tustin in the first round of the playoffs before knocking off Mira Costa and Pacifica and then beating Oxnard 23-14 to win the CIF title at Covina District Field. Add it all up and South Hills was 14-0 before advancing to State.

Bechtel was firmly at the control, bringing it all together while mixing and matching his defensive and offensive alignments to put together a winning formula. Bechtel knew just when to heap praise on his team or hand out discipline. He benched a key player in his offense in a disciplinary action in the Tustin game to make a point that winning was all about a team effort and not just one individual.

His team bought in hook line and sinker and rolled to the championship for South Hills, which was its first since 2005. Matt Bechtel is the Mid Valley Sports Coach of the Year.

3 Comments to "2018 Mid Valley Coach of the Year: Matt Bechtel – South Hills"

  1. sports man's Gravatar sports man
    December 25, 2018 - 11:33 pm | Permalink

    Anthony White, if he is the man that took Buena Park from zero to very good, will make Cal a serious competitive team; or any team that needs good coaching real bad to turn average talent into good talent. ?? But do the schools with openings ‘care about their football student athletes?’ And of course will there be teaching positions open that White has credential in?

  2. Mid fan's Gravatar Mid fan
    December 25, 2018 - 1:02 am | Permalink

    If he goes to Damien maybe Anthony White would be a nice fit but maybe he’ll take that Wilson job. Cal and Warren to White is always on everyone’s list him and Jude.

  3. Congratulations's Gravatar Congratulations
    December 23, 2018 - 8:59 pm | Permalink

    I couldn’t agree more with this COY selection. The Huskies mirrored the personality of this fine leader, and in so doing, made memories that will last a lifetime.

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