By Tim Peterson
(La Puente) – Martin Soto, who stepped down as the head coach at Bassett Monday, has been named the new head football coach at La Puente he confirmed Saturday morning.
“My time at Bassett was good, we had fun, accomplished some things but I’m most proud of our players who bought in and committed to us as coaches,” Soto said. “I’m excited to start the new journey over at La Puente and I’m confident that with our coaching staff and the admin support there we can do some great things.”
Soto takes over for Erick Williams who stepped down last year. The Warriors went 3-7 overall last year, 1-3 in the Miramonte.
Wow. This must be the first time in history a Bassett head coach goes to coach at the cross town hated rival La Puente. Crazy.
It goes both ways a lot of high school kids leave programs once a bigger program comes calling leaving the coach high and dry. it’s part of the business and life. Just look at what is happening right now with covid a lot of business wanted employees to be all in and covid hits and the first thing that was done is fire employees. Nothing wrong with looking out for yourself
I think you are missing the point is not that he left is how he left. Just like it wouldn’t be right a student leaving mid season.
He knew all along and he choose to stay quiet for his own good he should had first let the kids know and quit with enough time so they can have time to get a coach.
So he waits until he is officially hired to quit he then tells his team.via Instagram post. On top he is trying to recruit students telling them bassett has no chance not enough players come play with us.
Good for Soto. Now a days, It’s hard to get support from admin. I’m sure he’ll get more support from admin at LP than Bassett. Coaches have the right to take better opportunities that come to them just like players are allowed to transfer.
Since 2009:
2009: 8-3
2010: 8-3
2011: 9-2
2012: 8-3
2013: 7-4
2014: 7-4
2015: 3-7
2016: 7-4
2017: 6-5
2018: 6-4
2019: 3-7
Excluding a few bad seasons. It is clear why he would go to La Puente. More success, more support, and more stability over the years. Sucks he is leaving, but wish him success there.
Coaches come and go to other programs. But to not meet with players to say he was moving on or at least zoom them. Did he go to a better program? Maybe. But wasn’t it four or five years ago when Spathais was coach Bassett was beating La Puente. Soto might of promised kid things but so do politicians lol. Bassett needs a coach who can make kids believe in themselves turn boys into fine young men. The coach that can turn Bassett around still teaches on campus. Bassett High and BUSD has to help and support programs. Coach Spathais come back home we know you can fill a staff with veteran and young coaches.
From T. Peterson: FYI -Bassett beat La Puente last year 29-23.
That is not the point !!!
I’m glad I was able to have my last year with bassett football. I’m sad that the coach would do this to my friends. As the coach he could have gotten them all together and told em. Its messed up. And the person who said we shouldn’t invest heart and soul in our coach…. we didn’t! We invest our heart and soul in the team, our team!! I’m sad bcuz they (coaches) did promise a few kids alot of stuff. Thats messed up.
????
@ SGV: When I was a senior in high school, I was acquainted with a guy who was on the “five-year plan” because he lacked the credits to graduate with his class. I don’t think that the concept of a fifth or “redshirt” season will ever be applied to high school athletes.
I believe Tim is right; the odds of having a high school football season anywhere in L.A. County this coming winter are pretty bleak due to the long-predicted upsurge of the coronavirus.
Perhaps our mitigation efforts and an expedited rollout of two newly-developed vaccines could make it possible to have some sort of season next spring. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait until the late summer or fall of 2021.
Well if you need any information with facts we are more than gladly to give it to u.
People move on to other jobs. He gave it 2 years. Y’all entitled. Lol.
To future parents of high school athletes. NEVER let your kid invest heart and soul for any coach. They will use your kid for their own benefit. Any promises they make may as well come from Trump. Maybe high school should go the college route and give athletes a fifth year if they want it.
Sounds like he left Bassett high and dry. If anyone thinks football will happen in January they are crazy!!!!
I hope you write an article about how he left these kids at Bassett with no coach, no team, no hope. I hope you write how he applied for this position in spring. I hope you put that instead of acting like a coach and sit down with these players, with these seniors , with these parents and let us know what is going on. He decided to leave us with nothing but hurt and disappointed kids and announce his departure on Instagram.I hope you write that he promised alot to these kids especially the seniors! I hope you write about how upset, shocked and devastated these boys are. Not only have these kids been depressed since March from being on lock down and unable to see their friends and teammates but they were patiently waiting for football season to start. Their was zero communication from soto this entire time and now we know why. There is no way to get a full team together and game-ready this season in less than a month. He did these boys dirty. His motto was everything matters! Well I guess everything did matter to him except his team!
From T. Peterson: The story is that Coach Soto left Bassett and took the head coaching job at La Puente. That’s the information I have so that’s the story I’ll go with. I don’t know about any of these other things so no, I won’t be writing about them. If it’s any consolation I don’t think there will be a season this school year anyway. It’s looking like the next football season will begin in August 2021.
How can u be proud of how he handled it?
Congrats that he bailed on om.his so called players that played with their.heart for him he kept quiet until Monday no practices no motivation ? Well i guess la puente is excited to.have a coach like this
Yes he knew all along and never gave bassett kids a chance. He was mia and decides to let them.know as of Monday why not before so they can find another coach its about the kids. Sorry that is unprofessional and tactic move. Sports is about helping the youth not crushing them
Congrats soto!