By Tim Peterson
(San Gabriel) – Kevin Encinas has resigned as the head football coach at San Gabriel after four years he confirmed Friday.
The Matadors are coming off a historical season in which they went 11-4 overall and won the CIF Division 13 Championship with a 52-27 win over Bishop Montgomery. They advanced to the State Bowl 6-A Championship after beating Kennedy 46-34 in the first round but they ultimately fell to Atascadero 41-0 in the final.
San Gabriel was 24-14 overall during Encinas’ four-year run. After going 3-7 in 2019 and 1-0 in the COVID-19 shortened season in the Spring of 2021, the Mats finished 9-3 overall and advanced to the second round of the Division 13 playoffs in the 2021 season before falling to Montclair. Then 2022 happened and Encinas was named the Mid Valley Sports Coach of the Year.
Encinas cited the need to spend more time with family as the reason for his resignation. San Gabriel will begin the search for a new head coach immediately.
Kevin Encinas Statement:
He was pink slipped and doesn’t have a teaching job. That district didn’t take care of coach.
A league title !
The teams above SG were better. CIF randomized lottery now
Of course third place team can beat other third place teams
Leroy and Anonymous’ kids probably didn’t get much playing time.
Coach Kevin did it with limited resources at sg he had 3 man staff with him and built the program up the last years were successful and it looked like he was building an annual contender at sg. Interesting to see who takes over
Come on dude, really talking about a league title when he got a CIF title. Which would you rather have?
Leroy and Anonymous SUCK!!!
@ Anonymous: Yes, the Matadors benefited from the CIF Southern Section’s wacky playoff format, but they made the most of their postseason opportunities. San Gabriel deserves a lot of credit for winning at the right time.
Good luck to you coach. Enjoy your family!
Hottest thing can’t win a league title.
I extend my best wishes to you and your family, Coach Encinas. I’ve always known you to be a dedicated and tenacious coach who has cared greatly about his students and athletes. It was fun working with you and Coach Jones in the P.E. Department back in 2019!
He and his assistants, players and fans made 2022 a magical season for SGHS. They will go down in Matador history. I will admit, this caught me by surprise. Enjoy your family coach.
Agree 100%
Answer : because the whole structure of playoffs have changed since 2016 , but primarily since 2021with the ex post facto creation of playoff divisions ; it used to be that there were some really good teams in D13 that would be reclassified the next year. Now by definition, D13 are not so good teams (-20 or worse power ratings )
Please don’t construe this as saying Coach Encinas didn’t do a great job , but winning CIF is not what it used to be, especially at lower levels
Class act all the way and very successful. He’s getting praise and rightfully show. I think this shows just how tough head the coaching gig is. Every time you see a successful coach resign, it makes you appreciate the ones still doing it that much more.
My grandma could coach a big SGV school to a D13 championship. If he stuck around and did it in D10 this year now were talking.
From T. Peterson: Then why didn’t anybody coach SG to a D13 championship before him if it’s so easy?
Certainly can’t blame the man for exiting while he’s the hottest thing in the Almont. Truth be told, this coaching thing has become an incredible grind, which is why I advocate a salary for these guys in the range of what teachers get. Are they not teaching valuable life lessons to their athletic charges?
Jude come back
We want Matty v