Tim Peterson
By Tim Peterson
Nobody was shocked that Matt Bechtel left South Hills to take over at Damien. It’s his alma mater and he got a fat pay raise to boot.
Some would argue that he just won a CIF title at South Hills and with plenty of talent coming back it would make sense to try to repeat. But by winning it this year Bechtel already accomplished his goal. The Championship is the goal, that’s done, so its time to move on. When Mark Paredes stepped down at Damien it was only a matter of time before Bechtel made the move.
With Bechtel out some are speculating that former South Hills head coach Steve Bogan will be in. I don’t think he’s leaving Bonita but apparently some people in football circles do based on the messages I’ve received this week. It would be an interesting story but I don’t think I’ll be writing it. I just don’t see it.
If not Bogan then who? Matt Koffler? It’s always fun to throw Koffler’s name out there whenever there is a coaching job open. Fun to throw Mike Mooney’s name in the mix as well but with Mooney it’s actually a possibility. One guy that won’t be the head coach at South Hills is DC Rudy Beruman. He was offered the job but is instead following Bechtel to Damien.
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Nothing yet on Cal. Former assistant Louie Zamora’s name was being tossed around as the frontrunner but things have been pretty quiet since. Dale Ziola would be a good fit and apparently was interested in the job when Kyle Trudell was initially hired five years ago but unless he pulls a Kliff Kingsbury he’s locked in at Covina.
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Crescenta Valley won’t miss a beat with Hudson Gossard, who was the OC, taking over for Paul Schilling. It’s the same schemes, same program, same ole, same ole. CV will be a pain in the Pacific as always.
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Speaking of Kingsbury why did he take the USC job when he knew all of these NFL jobs would be opening up three weeks later? AD Lynn Swann is taking hits for this but when a man signs on the dotted line and agrees to join your coaching staff you believe he will do exactly that. I know about buyout clauses, but doesn’t that apply when the coach has actually worked a season…or even a game? Sure USC was a stepping stone for Kingsbury but he never actually stepped on any stones. He didn’t do anything. What he did do is go 35-40 in six seasons at Texas Tech before getting fired. Why is he such a hot commodity?
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This is how desperate NFL teams are for the next Sean McVay. On the Arizona Cardinals press release announcing Kingsbury’s hiring, they listed McVay as a “close personal friend” of Kingsbury. I’m a close personal friend of a lawyer that used to work for the Department of Justice too but I’m not a lawyer and will never work for the DOJ. Why would it be mentioned on a press release?
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About a month ago I asked on Twitter who would get fired first in LA? Luke Walton or Clay Helton? Who would have thought it would be Steve Alford? But when you lose to Belmont and Liberty that tends to happen.
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Intriguing names popping up in the head coaching search at Warren. Nothing concrete yet but very interesting names. Stay tuned.
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Gladstone’s Carlos Enis has been offered a scholarship to play football at Clarke University in Iowa. Enis, who plays both running back and linebacker, also carries a 3.85 GPA. “He was also offered by Puget Sound and we are completing his paperwork for West Point,” said Gladstone head coach Ted Clarke.
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I like the Rams, Saints, Chargers and Chiefs this weekend. But I don’t like Kliff Kingsbury.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.
Btw these EM post seem like someone trolling rather then EM people. I know when I smell a RAT…
@i played for Thompson, shut up already about them recruiting this Vegas kid. You really think a kid moved to El Monte from Vegas because EM is so great or is it just coincidence. Maybe the kid was moving into town and happened to know so coaches. Seems a lot more likely to me.
Just give it up already***
Arroyo is going to be okay they get their guys that nobody talks about in the off season. And just like EM they’re going to coach them up and come out and win games. Don’t come talking just because your coach is only coaching up bad habits.
@I played for coach Thompson : Who is Coach Thompson and from your oh so know it all attitude about all of SGV football I bet you didn’t even play and had to take the left side of the bench because of a transfer. ?
There’s enough carries to go around. We’ll make sure Montoya gets a score or two on you this upcoming season.
L.V. Out…
Look around you buddy that’s the name of the game. Didn’t your transfer, transfer back to their school this past season? Don’t give it up already and bring your kid down here. We’ll break those bad habits he got from there and make a ball player out of him!
And this “division 14” team still smacked your team so relax partner. Or you could find out what the LV really stands for!
Is Arroyo supposed to go to Vegas and pick kids from there? Is Rosemead Mt View and gab supposed to start recruiting as well? To me it’s a gut shot to the real El Monte kids. You’re telling them “YOURE NOT GOOD ENOUGH” I need better players to make myself look good!
We all know what happened when you played a decent team in San Marino. Didn’t they almost put 80 on El Monte? Yea, division 14 forsure right there. El Monte sucks, so relax
Lmao who has that loser recruited from Pico to SEM. That guys a joke.
Em express is full of transfers. Very surprised Arroyo is being left in the dust. Even if the two players from sem are average I am sure they will help out in some way. Recruiting is not coaching don’t be mistaken.
SEM has more PR Don coaches than El Rancho. Sad that a coach from another city knows how to recruit our town more than our own school.
@Monte Express
Chill out man. Taking two would be seniors isn’t something to be proud of. We have our Staff and administration to thank for the situation at the swamp. We had a “GREAT” staff before this season, now we have this… our best kids are leaving. The RB that us will shine defensively only, because you know darn well Kid Vegas isn’t losing carries and Cuevas can’t sacrifice any more carries. So wheres the room for him? Nothing is sacred in football anymore! Eagles becoming lions Lions recruiting seniors
Yet beat D8 arroyo a top 10 in that division. And I’m sure would beat your school. But hey still got to get better
I don’t think that’s even em people posting
Winchell? The only only Winchell I know is a doughnut shop!
@SGV The people that are complaining the most about transfers are the same people that of been benefiting for decades by kids transferring to their schools from other schools they should be attending those ARE transfers so if you think that last year was ElMonte’s best year think again all their back field is returning and key lineman and a bunch of hard working classman. SO THINK AGAIN !
@king lion, wow. Hahahahaha what a joke. Guy is so clueless.
PR Dons Strength & Conditioning coach ????? SEM needs and X’s and O’s coach.
SEM strength and conditioning Coach is from the Pico Dons. Word is SEM has their kids run a mile b4 practice and do cross-training instead of lifting. Maybe if it was a Spartan race you guys would be league Champs!
The transfers express! Developing recruits the day they arrive! Hahaha don’t be delusional. Without the transfers EM is not league champs and not in the semis. Don’t take away from the good things they are doing by making it seem like they don’t recruit.
el monte has a very good coach!
A division 14 power at El Monte. Congrats.
El Monte football wins league and a couple playoff games…….
Be humble support your boys and sit down because last year was your best chance at a ring.
Don’t care what Winchell looks like, he has been the best coach mentioned on this blog. Nogales, Bassett, and South El Monte would all want him instead of the guy they have now. Even with the El Monte coach who recruits his butt off, Winchell was on the staff that beat him in the CIF championship game. Talk all the crap you want, he’s the best coach mentioned on this blog!
Too late. Two South kids checked into El Monte and are quickly becoming a part of the family. Marcos’ skill set will definitely be showcased at El Monte. You could bring in the strength coach from Alabama won’t make a difference. What’s happening at El Monte is something special and they definitely develop their football players to their full potential. The El Monte Express- All Aboard!
Bassett tied for third, is that how you spin it to the kids. There was a three way tie for last place in that league: Ganesha 1-3, La Puente 1-3, and Bassett 1-3. Garey was second at 3-1.
Once again none of these coaches can coach at South Hills, they can’t even coach in they league with those weak teams.
I honestly think they would’ve beat Ganesha. That’s if they would’ve made up the rain out game which seems like they were the only teams not to do so
SH? Nogales went 4 and 1 in league; then won a CIF playoff game! Yes they did seem to get worse every game in league and finally lost to Gladstone…so they were co-champs of Montview. Cif victory is big though; I know..I know ….the division was not a great one, but cif wins are special. sharing title is signal they did regress. And ??? would both coaches u mentioned have the ‘testes’ to switch districts? And the 10 and 2 years head coach left for Fullerton, a much better league, to try to develop a good program again. Yes FHS the year before was very good winning in playoffs, but before that they had a couple sad years. COACH YUM YUM: ‘clone’ of Beltran is impossible bcus several of his LS assistant are still at LS continuing the success. He has done well at BG, but I think his goals have not been met YET. THOMPSON=urging kids to leave and bringing in a good coach? Very contradictory! My choice at Cal is the Buena Park coach of a few years back; he turned bad into very good; and Cal is moving into ‘bad’. I think he can change program and will bring his previous assistants with him bcus they respect and like the Man
Bassett Tied for 3rd in League with their win against La Puente
Also played some quality opponents last year Adelanto won the division 13 championship. Loara did well in playoffs.
If it wasn’t for the slip up in their first game they would be at 5 and 5.
Not where they want to be I’m sure… but give the staff time it was their first year, second year will be better.
What I meant by big three I meant it as best jobs available. Trust me nobody is in a hurry to take the Wilson job
Hate to break it to you but that’s every city. Every city in the valley has kids that have talent and go elsewhere. That’s not new. I’m referring to the kids that didn’t get recruited and stayed put. It’s slim pickings.
Ryan Maddox is the V.P. at SH why not him????
@SGV outsider – if Cal, Warren and SH are big 3 –
@TimP and @SGVOS who are you hearing ?
Who are biggest names those schools can get?
Yea you might be wrong there Sir. Several South El Monte Boys go off and star on the Amat’s Cathedrals Los Altos of the world.
Xavier Hernandez TE Bishop Amat 2 year starter
Andrew Tovar QB Cathedral 3 year starter broke all school records for passing
Marcos Lopez Cathedral 1st Team all Angelus 500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards
Robert Ramirez Los Altos 2 year starter 1st team defense Hacienda league
Noah Villa Charter Oak receiver 36 catches 557 yards
Not to mention the kids that stayed in the MVL to putt up incredible numbers. There is talent here. Remember it’s one city primarily so I think the greater El Monte does very fit itself! There’s a reason private’s school are always lurking around
It’s not like SEM kids are a hot commodity. Their best bet is to stay in the MVL. 99% of those kids couldn’t bang with teams outside the MVL, unless you count teams like Bassett or Sierra Vista.
*not to leave
@Sgv
If you know football Nogales has 2,000 plus kids and the last two years went 10-2. This year they
are a 500 team with all that returning talent. Either the coaches that left are really really good or this coach is vary bad. Fullerton struggle this year after an outstanding year last year, so last years coach are not alll that.
As for Bassett four wins, Cmon man one was a forfeit, one was against a winless team Sierra Vista, one was against Bosco Tech, and the last win came against La Puente after they went into overtime and lost to go to the playoffs the game before. La Puente had nothing to play for, fumble the ball six times and barely lost.
So yes, Nogales and Bassett coaches are not in the mix to go to South Hills. Now a couple years ago Bassett was good, but is wasn’t with this staff.
Sgv outsider is Soto from Bassett
And as for Nogales, take a look at their losses. I can’t explain their loses to Gladstone or SEM. But Rowland walnut and arroyo are quality loses. Again man. Just because you’re sitting high and mighty at SH doesn’t mean these schools didn’t see growth. Nogales as bad as they looked still made it to the second round of the playoffs and barely lost that one
I don’t know what you’re seeing. Bassett is my improving. Yeah they went 4-6. They got two more wins than the year before. And if you look carefully at those loses 4 of them went to the playoffs all advanced to the quarter finals and one got the division. Loara, Adelanto, Pomona, and Garey all did good in the playoffs with Adelanto Winning. So how is that program going backwards
South El Monte Head Coach addressed the rumors of his assistants and kids leaving. He’s urging the kids to leave. He says he’s bringing in a big name! Not sure who could be. But he did say the freshman staff will not move up. He hired a Strength Coach finally.
From T. Peterson: He’s urging the kids to leave?
@Coach Yum Yum
LOLOLOLOLOL
He looks like he sat on an air hose! I’d be surprised if he got the HC job given the fact he did not get it the first time around… wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up on staff as an OC or Oline coach though.
In the NFL, everyone wants a clone of Sean McVay. In the Del Rio, everyone wants a clone of Margarito Beltran. That’s why Winchell holds the edge in the Cal competition. He certainly holds the edge when it comes to reminding us that “a donut a day keeps the doctor away.”
@Sgv outsider,
Are you kidding me about Robles at Nogales and Soto at Bassett. Both those programs are going backwards since they took over those programs. Nogales is now a 500 program in a very bad league and Bassett took last place for the third year in a row. Both coaches are jokes.
So Mr. Peterson. Big three jobs I see are Warren, South Hills and Cal. Who do you think are the front runners. Will Wilson ever find a HC? I know schools are looking for young coaches for their programs. And there are two that come to mind in Robles from Nogales and Soto from Bassett. Do you think they will bail for greener pastures?
I like ever team you don’t. Colts got luck and a very good OL. Rams can’t stop the run and Dallas has the best RB in football. Chargers go from coast to coast two weeks in a row, Pats win big. Eagles have been there before and take out the Saints. Been winning about a 65% this season.
On coaches saying Bogan is leaving, a circle of coaches gossip and roll their eyes more than Orange County Housewives plus they can’t hold any secrets longer than it takes to drink their first beer.
Cal is interviewing two candidates, Louie Zamora and Patrick Winchell this week. Both were finalists 5 years ago when Kyle Trudell was hired and both teach at Cal, Zamora PE and Winchell Special Education.