Spathias Takes Over at El Monte

Hector Spathias is the new head football coach at El Monte

By Tim Peterson

(El Monte) – Former Bassett AD/Head Coach Hector Spathias has been named the new head football coach at El Monte. Spathias takes over for Victor Romero who stepped down after last season.

Spathias, who has had previous head coaching stops at Workman and Los Altos, last season led the Olympians to an overall record of 5-5 and a spot in the CIF Division 13 playoffs where they fell in the first round to Heritage Christian 30-28. Bassett won the Miramonte League with a 4-1 record.

El Monte, under Romero, went 4-6 least year but 3-2 in the Mission Valley League. The Lions fell in the first round of the Division 14 playoffs to Pomona 40-16.

Spathias indicated it was a tough decision to leave Bassett but ultimately decided it was a great opportunity at El Monte.

“I grew up in El Monte so I’m excited for the opportunity,” Spathias said.

20 Comments to "Spathias Takes Over at El Monte"

  1. Sports Man's Gravatar Sports Man
    July 13, 2022 - 7:08 pm | Permalink

    If I was a Principal, Assistant Principal, or AD I would treat Hector very well, without brown nosing! High School Sports are so very important and if coached correctly (as Spat’s staff does) players learn life skills unable to be taught in academic classrooms. No not more important , just many different and necessary skills, such as teamwork, respect , and more. McDonald was an administrator who may have been intimidated by quality coaches because they never ‘brown nose

  2. Sports Man's Gravatar Sports Man
    July 13, 2022 - 7:03 pm | Permalink

    In my experience, Bassett does not give one ounce of ???? concern to athletic program! Salary increases are impossible in public schools so this is out of it! Hector , i think , has never , ever coached for Money! He was close to great high school athlete, played JC baseball and last two years at CSLA successfully. Great guy too. He don’t need a $1,000.00 raise for coaching. Teaching may be different subject! I think he and Urias and D Line Coach and staff enjoy taking show on road. A few years back… some Administrator “McDonald’ is her name could have hired a ‘scientifically statistical data’ supported Winner. I believe she just too lazy to have to work little harder if her student athletes EARN playoffs

  3. Sports Man's Gravatar Sports Man
    July 13, 2022 - 6:57 pm | Permalink

    Spathias coaches with a great staff; YES Urias leading the way. He is , in my opinion, (only seen him work one season though) an Offensive Master! On the other side of the ball ????? D Line Coach awesome! And only staff I observed one season at Workman (All CIF QB and National statistical wide receiver top 20 I think) led club to first league championship in almost three decades if I am close to correct . I believe i am correct. They give up way too many points but I think in 2 seasons EM becomes heck of a club

  4. ?'s Gravatar ?
    April 10, 2022 - 11:50 am | Permalink

    Wasn’t Urias hired as the head coach.
    From T. Peterson: No. Hector Spathias was.

  5. Vikings's Gravatar Vikings
    April 9, 2022 - 3:21 pm | Permalink

    Spat I believe is a Mountain View alum to go with Ibis at BP and a number of solid assistants in the are. Has MV reached out to any of them in the past openings they had?

  6. April 9, 2022 - 10:19 am | Permalink

    Congratulations to coach Hector Spathias and assistant Jerry Urias as they take over the El Monte football program that goes back to 1921, welcome aboard!

  7. John Kovac El Monte P. A. Announcer's Gravatar John Kovac El Monte P. A. Announcer
    April 9, 2022 - 10:11 am | Permalink

    Congrats and welcome to new head coach Hector Spathias and assistant coach Jerry Urias as the Lions start their 100th season of football.

  8. The Commentator Formerly Known as Chomsky Says's Gravatar The Commentator Formerly Known as Chomsky Says
    April 9, 2022 - 7:47 am | Permalink

    And just like that, my own end-product (or lack thereof) makes an amendment necessary: *kids’

  9. The Commentator Formerly Known as Chomsky Says's Gravatar The Commentator Formerly Known as Chomsky Says
    April 9, 2022 - 7:45 am | Permalink

    Yes, I’d say it’s a safe bet to say the Bassett USD administration “don’t care what happens to the kids” and seemingly “don’t hide it” when they hire teachers who don’t appear able to express themselves clearly such as when writing in fragment sentences, mixing past and present tenses, or failing to punctuate. I’d say such a poor demonstration of one’s abilities sullies what could be an otherwise tenable case for better pay. Don’t complain unless you can exhibit the goods to advance the betterment of the kids. Xs and Os matter on and off the field so far as they facilitate the kids ability to produce quality end-product.

  10. Ortega66's Gravatar Ortega66
    April 8, 2022 - 5:00 pm | Permalink

    I’m happy for Spat he was my teacher at SEM and coach, I wish him all the best.

  11. SEM's Gravatar SEM
    April 7, 2022 - 9:03 pm | Permalink

    Glad to see Spat take over El Monte and bring coach Urias back to his hometown and roots. Coach Urias will bring this program back along with all the other coaches. Will be nice to see them play Urias former school where he coaches South El Monte. Coach Urias has a long history not only at El Monte High School but also the city of El Monte. Watch out cause El Monte will be turning some heads.

  12. Bassett Dad's Gravatar Bassett Dad
    April 7, 2022 - 8:24 pm | Permalink

    Happy for Spat sad for Bassett. They lose many great coaches. As a football coach Spat always talked with parents said hello had conversations. El Monte will do well with Spat. He turns programs around. Best of luck. Even though all my kids graduated from Bassett I still follow there sports program. My son played football for Spat and baseball for Gabriel Cuevas two great guys. They were loyal as coaches to Bassett. District needs to take care coaches. Not let them walk away!!! Hopefully Bassett finds a coach who can coach kids up. We don’t need another Coach Long

  13. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    April 7, 2022 - 8:17 pm | Permalink

    Interesting to see if Rosemead will regret not hiring spat and going with Matty V assistant instead of Matty v himself

  14. Question's Gravatar Question
    April 7, 2022 - 8:10 pm | Permalink

    It’s worse paying than Monrovia District? Monrovia is pretty bad .

  15. Bassettteacher's Gravatar Bassettteacher
    April 7, 2022 - 6:47 pm | Permalink

    You have no idea what it’s like to teach at Bassett. First, it’s the lowest paying district in Southern California. Second, the district administration does not care what happens to the kids and they don’t hide it. When we found out Spat was leaving today obviously we as a staff are bummed, but extremely happy for Spat. He works way to hard for no extra pay. I thought the district is going to burn him out. They had him coach, AD, doing the athletic trainers duties, locker room attendant, equipment manager, department chair, and I know he had to supervise the games and track meets. To top it off he had a full teaching schedule. I know he is a hard worker he’s always been that way, but they took advantage of him. This move is a no brainer and we told him. I am happy for the guy, most of all I’ll miss his humor on campus. He made light of some bleak situations here, made some thought days a lot better with him on campus. Like everything is alright with him around. Everybody got along with him. Damm we will miss you bud.

  16. SGV's Gravatar SGV
    April 7, 2022 - 5:23 pm | Permalink

    Spat spat on Bassett. Your next to get Spat on EM.

  17. Coaches/Politicians's Gravatar Coaches/Politicians
    April 7, 2022 - 12:14 pm | Permalink

    High School coaches
    Political offices
    Have in common
    Don’t know what to believe
    Coaches resign say to spend more time with family then weeks later they have another coaching job
    Coaches say they coming back staying out then they leave
    Good old days coaches lasted long at schools but also back in the days you had solid freshman JV and Varsity teams nowadays schools lucky to have at least a JV team well best of luck Spathais.

  18. Mid Valley Fan's Gravatar Mid Valley Fan
    April 7, 2022 - 11:44 am | Permalink

    Peterson didn’t recently Spathais tell you he coming back for another Season at Bassett? Had administration support most of players coming back. Maybe they giving him more money there at El Monte? Coaching now a days is like musical chairs. Greener pastures? Sad day for Bassett football 🏈
    From T. Peterson: Way more $$!

  19. SoCal's Gravatar SoCal
    April 7, 2022 - 11:39 am | Permalink

    Good for Spat, sad day for Bassett. Why can’t Bassett hold on to quality personal? I hope Bassett can recover this time because they have no other high school in the district that they can merge with. Everybody wants a winner that does things right. I can see why El Monte went after Spat hard, why wouldn’t they. Homegrown kid that everybody wants to be associated with. I believe he runs the high School All Star game and he does it right. I know they made some good rule changes to make the game a fair playing field. I think it is North vs South rather than East vs West, smart move.

  20. NWO's Gravatar NWO
    April 7, 2022 - 10:00 am | Permalink

    Not an EM fan, but this is the right guy for their program. Good luck coach.

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