By Tim Peterson
Just some random thoughts on a Friday night: What’s the quickest way to kill a football program? Let your head coach go in the middle of March.
Initial reports were that Robert Beltran stepped down at Azusa. But upon further review Beltran was given a choice – either resign or be fired…which makes more sense. What head coach is going to quit in March unless he has another job waiting for him? Beltran didn’t have a job waiting. In fact he was an Azusa guy and had been for life.
He was by all accounts, getting ready for spring football. Instead he’s out and the Aztecs are starting a search for a head football coach in March. Do you know who’s available in March? Let’s put it this way. If you’re any good you’ve already accepted a position by now. These decisions are made in December, January and early February. All the good ones are gone. Azusa is left sorting through the rubbish.
They’ll find a guy and I’m sure he’ll give it the old college try but any mojo the Aztecs may have had is gone. Who’s going to run spring practice? The track coach? One person it won’t be is the basketball coach? Why not? Well, because Azusa doesn’t have one. They also don’t have a boys soccer coach and possibly no boys or girls tennis coach. Oh what about cross country? No they don’t have a cross country coach either – a least for the girls. And for good measure the AD is done at the end of the spring sports session. So if there is no AD who’s going to hire a new football coach? Not good.
“It’s an absolute disaster!” said a concerned Azusa fan. “They had a good group of freshman this last year but have already lost a few of them to Northview because their facilities look better and we have no coaches. I feel bad for the kids.”
Well, as we all now football is king and they did have a football coach. Now they don’t. And they might not for awhile. Where have you gone Joe Scherf?
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San Marino isn’t a disaster but they are another school that doesn’t have a football coach in March. They concluded their interviews last week but as of now there is no clear cut favorite. Thomas Camerano, who was an assistant under Mike Hobbie last year, did interview but has since pulled his name from consideration. Another candidate flopped in the interview and a third might be lost due to an inadequate financial offer. Again, spring football is right around the corner. The Titans need to act now.
Note to the San Marino Admin: Hobbie put San Marino back on the map. He turned the Titans into a well respected program. Keep that momentum going. Don’t let the program deteriorate over a few bucks. Go out and get your coach! This is football. It’s an investment that will pay off.
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Arroyo was back out on the football field for the first time last Saturday. For now it’s just the Knights (they aren’t throwing yet) and it’s just one day a week. Wait, Spring football isn’t just right around the corner. It’s here.
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That Duke – North Carolina game was a blast! Just fun. Hey has anybody used this one yet? “The Zion King!” I think I better patent it before somebody rips me off .
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Still waiting for former Temple City/Buena Park HC Anthony White to land somewhere. I don’t have any inside scoop but it just feels like he’ll be back in the mix soon. Well I might have some scoop. We’ll see.
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Anybody else hear this? Jeanie Buss actually considered trading LeBron James after the Lakers’ trade talk leaks? Looks like Azusa isn’t the only disaster right now.
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What’s the over-under on the number of World Series that the Philadelphia Phillies and Bryce Harper win over the next 13 years? One?
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Not sure that Antonio Brown suddenly puts the Raiders over the top. Now if they had Amari Cooper and Antonio Brown then maybe you have something. Speaking of Brown…well the Browns, I love the Odell Beckham Jr. deal. Talk about over the top…
Nobody is convincing me that Le’Veon Bell benefitted by sitting out last year. $52 million from the New York Jets? Couldn’t he have had another $14 million last year and $20 million more in a new contract from the Steelers if he played?
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Bill Walton – great at UCLA… great (when healthy) in the NBA…terrible behind the mic.
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Way too early prediction: Dale Ziola will lead the Covina Colts back to the CIF Final.
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One more over-under. Who hires a head coach first? Azusa Football or UCLA Basketball?
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.
Pearson if you come you will succeed just like Hobbie did.
You have our support and backing.
@BT Bear If Pearson goes to San Marino the kids will come you already know the deal. but even if he got kids to Warren he aint beating Paramount or Downey neva eva eva.
Looks and sounds like all their old coaches aren’t even coming back BT Bear. Lets see how much they work over spring break to get someone in. They seem to be on it by listing 2 jobs on edjoin with a chemisrty job. what football head coach teaches chemisrty????? only at San marino HAHAHHAA
San marino take some advice just go back and get pearson and break the bank
In Azusa football plays a big second fiddle to futbol. In San Marino the archery team has a first class coach.
@Bt Bear
We have Short, our Team Doctor, AD, Principal, and uniforms coming back. 🙁
@Anon, you appear to be saying the cupboard is bare? What does San Marino have coming back?
Tim it is monday whats the scoop?
From T. Peterson: Status quo.
Azusa just elected new school board members. The people of the city are united and want new leadership at the district office. The teachers have spoken up as well. There is a mutiny at Azusa high school going on. Linda Kaminsky has lost control of our schools. Our board members have a unique opportunity to act, or they will be voted out plain and simple.
Remember, the best part about filing lawsuits (when that comes) is the discovery phase! The amount of corruption at the highest levels of AUSD is astonishing! Stay tuned!
@sports man
You are 100% I don’t think san marino get just how important football is. They only won because of hobby and his sons or family kids on the team. Now we see what they can do w/o them.
I say the ball is in the court of San Marino. If they received applications, conducted interviews, and negotiated. They have their Ace. Now with parent, booster and school support they need to all get back together huddle up and make it work. As a business owner for over 13 years I can tell you there is nothing worse than hiring your 2nd 3rd 4th choice
I just came to read the comments
They did not disappoint LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
All it would take is a phone call or email from either side to see what the real deal is. SM extended the deadline 2 weeks but according to posts here they are on spring break for 1 of those weeks. SMH
San Marino reminds me of a school that rather do away with football. They can care less about what happens on the field as long as kids are passing tests and making the school look good.
Did you know San Marino Unified passed a tax to give more money to the school and is looking to pass another tax next year for even more money. Yet they can’t afford a coach with more than 20 years of winning experience? Spare me. Either you want to win or your don’t.
Not going with the long standing assistant and losing him to another league school only furthers my suspicions.
5:1 Azuza makes a hire first.
@peterson what’s the timeline for Azuza or San Marino to finally make a hire?
Havent seen the Jude for hire postings. I guess that death penalty from CIF this season has him banned from SGV just ask those Montebello and Schurr parents.
San Marino currently does not have a Superintendent. That may be where the hold up is. No one to give the thumbs up, A OK, blessing, the go ahead
Anyone remember when San Marino football sucked? If you don’t , we are all about to be reminded this season 🙁
We are on Spring Break this week at SM – calling it recruiting week for us looking to leave.
So being a teacher makes you a great coach? You unde stand 70% of high school head coaches outside of football are walk on coaches. I no longer have a horse in the race but will you hold true to that statement if he goes to Tc and beats us the next 3 years. In the end it’s about winning football games not what they do for a living.
QB C. Short of SM should transfer out of SM soon get off the titanic. He has no help and now no coaches
What looks like a move inviting Head Coaching Job?
Azuza with the lowest of the low expectations, an easier league and D-13 playoffs OR San Marino following the best coach they’ve had in over 20 years, a tough league with Monrovia and improving TC and D-9?
Does anyone realize that we lose almost our whole Football coaches for 2020 including Coach Hobbie, Coach Cam and Coach Lopez? If Principal Gates can’t get us a good coach we can start having car washes at our In and Out spot on Atlantic to raise the money to pay the new coach. Who’s Down?!
Sorry to burst your bubble young man but it happens every year. After spending a lifetime and career in education, I have seen it all. It is not a mess, it is professional due diligence.
Coach Cam was great! But you have to be a teacher to be a Head Coach. Driving up at 2:30 or 3:00 and putting on a hat and putting in long hours at home watching film. Does not make you Head Coach. It makes you a legit right hand man. See you week 10 next year Coach Cam Rams vs Titans
As the parent of a current football player at San Marino who is already devastated that coach Hobbie will not coach him for his senior year, I’m shocked to find out that we won’t give our first choice his years of service , essentially asking him to take a massive pay cut to come to San Marino. Furthermore my son would run through a wall for Coach Camerano and now he is withdrawing his name too.!?!
Who is our third choice, a young kid who hangs around practice and listens to his Radio? Or an old man at the local hardware store named Rudy who played a couple downs at Norte Dame 40 years ago? While I’m on my movie metaphor kick, I might suggest that the admin buy copies of Remebwr the Titans for all of the returning players. Sadly, the Titans from the movie are going to be the only Titans worth watching next season….
NEVER readjust the district’s salary schedule for a head football coach! Y? Once adjusted to ALL years, or 20 or 25=every future teacher hired will be on the same salary schedule and also have the benefit of transferring ALL their years, $$$$$$$ very much $$$ to fund that.
michael hawkins; I think the head football coach is as or more important than administrators! But if they give him more years /transfer years of experience than Board policy, then all new teachers , or many, will want the same. Could cause a mess
San Marino is the New Azuza! Lolololol 🙂 I’m Dead!
OMG – I sound like my Daughter,
I Just saw Him at SAnMarino Yesterday,
San Marino vs South Pas Baseball I believe son is a freshmen baseball player at South Pas
Bravo to whomever posted this.
Also, it is confirmed it was a candidate who applied and interviewed.
WOW What a get if he goes to San Marino.
Y’all about A+ coach to A + coach
Don’t remember a school that lost a legend and then hired another great coach after.
” give this guy a chance and see where it goes” if u ask anyone at San Marino who was on the staff coach Camerano was Hobbies right hand man and had the second biggest impact on the program behind Hobbie. He might be young but age is no longer a messurent of success as you see in the NFL. Passion and hard work and the rare talent he has as a coach will be more then enough to beat most coaches in the area.
If hobbie believes in this young man I have no reason not to believe he is the right man for the job. Hobbie has done nothing but prove he knows what he is doing and talking about.
Fact check-Azusa has Cross Country coaches and Girls Tennis Coaches
From T .Peterson: A very good source told me the tennis coach is “possibly” done and there is no cross country coach.
Ok Muir, I see you. If the vultures are circling the carcass of what was once a proud San Marino football program cuz they won’t give out a fair contract to a potential new coach, then let the returnees at San Marino know that Saint Paul are ready to take in some transfers!
All I’m gonna say here is nothing is going to get done unless you go to these people directly. We worked and rallied to do the same with our program and it worked!
San Marino you have to contact them and let them know your parents, kids, and community cares more than they think! To Save San Marino Football! Here you go…….
Dr. Issaic Gates
Principal
igates@smusd.us
Mr. Jorge Munoz
Assistant Principal, Attendance, Activities, and Discipline
jmunoz@smusd.us
Dr. Soomin Chao
Assistant Principal, Guidance and Instruction
schao@smusd.us
David Irie
Athletic Department Athletic Director
dirie@smusd.us
SMUSD Board
Email all Board members at the email address board@smusd.us
Munoz and AD Irie are the men that need to beg to get this done. Gates is a new principal that may not know the SM football history and how horrible it used to be.
Most of the time when there is a protracted money issue over a football coach the root cause can be traced to the local teachers union. Jealousy abounds among them when it comes to football coaches money, perks, attention and publicity. Most teachers would rather just have a low paid walk-on with a 1-9 type team. Just don’t give perks to a new football coach dummy.
he just got hired don’t think he is looking to leave
All that $ in San Marino and they nickel and dime their coaches? Word of advice to the players & parents TRANSFER OUT Looks like they rather count Money than Keep your program going! Come to Muir! We need linemen!
Gates who came from Los Al football excellence as the asst principal went to SMHS during the height of SM football and lived off it for the last 2 years.
He knows what it takes to get his #1 guy and to have the board reconsider and get them all back to the table to do what’s best for SM football.
Make it right Gates get’em back to the table
Is it verified that granting years of service is the hold up for San Marino landing their top football coaching choice? Is it verified who is the coach they are nickel and diming? Don’t other districts grant all years of service for transfer teachers now? Why wouldn’t SM? I think he has taught for at least 20 years and if they want to only give him 10 years of service, that’s like an annual 20-30k a year pay cut. If SM unified can’t bridge that gap with a budget of tens of millions of dollars, then they have some other serious problems.
Lets see. looks like the SMUSD only give 10 years of service for teaching. (what a JOKE) meaning they will either hire the DREADED “WALK ON” COACH or San Marino will hire a the young “Lets Give This Guy a Chance and See How This Goes” coach under the age of 30 – a complete contrast to the level of success and experience as Hobbie.
I guess their Athletic Director Irie and Princiapl Gates think Wrestling, Swimming and Golf is enough.
San Marino Football is in disarray?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
San Marino now slumming it with the likes of the ‘disaster’ Azuza Football and Athletics over a few stipends or credit for teaching years!
Welcome San Marino High School! We knew you’d be back!
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
For a Principal and District to deny years for a Head Football Coach is a prime example of why if you are an athlete you need to GET OUT of the San Marino Unified District and go to a place where they care about Athletics.
Arcadia Unified here they Come!
Anthony white to Schurr
Jeannie DID consider trading Lebron because she’s furious with Rich Paul. With this revelation, how hard would it be to imagine Jeannie tossing Magic and Rob? It seems this lady HAS succeeded in bringing-back showtime, but this version is being played in the front office.
This is ridiculous! As a long time reader, never writer, I would have never thought my alma mater of San Marino would ever be the subject of a school or program that does not do what is best for its students and labeled in an article that may be a disaster with the likes of schools such as Azuza.
It is sad to see what the San Marino Administration has allowed our beloved CIF and State Champion San Marino Titans to become over something as small as “a few” bucks and what could be as just years of service or a stipend. THIS IS FOOTBALL The life blood of the school, to call it anything less, diminishes all that the legendary Coach Hobbie BUILT, DO NOT LET IT DIE!
WAKE UP SAN MARINO HS and Principal Gates! Get the #1 Guy and “Damn the torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead.” GET IT DONE
Dale Ziola is overrated.
I’m a little dismayed to read about San Marino struggling to get the coach they want over financial constraints. Since they are a public school, I’m guessing it’s coming down to either offering the coach a teaching position or granting them all of their years of service for a transfer. I say this because at a public the coaching stipend is a set amount so those are the only two things that would impact the school getting the coach they wanted if there was mutual interest from both parties. I too was hoping they would ride the momentum Hobbie created.
Only coach to make programs decent with late hire is H. S.