By Tim Peterson
I understand the premise of not releasing a new coaching hire until it’s official. “It’s pending board approval and we still have to tell the kids and do the background checks” is the common mantra that I hear from sources (Athletic Directors, coaches or otherwise) when I’m informed a new head football coach has been hired. “Ok. Just let me know,” I always reply.
I was told the same thing recently by a local high school coach who was offered the head football coach position. That was six weeks ago. Three days? A week? Maybe 10 days until everything is cleared? Ok cool. But six weeks? They’re applying for a job as a football coach not as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
At this point, If I’m the coach, I’d be advising the school to give me a yes so I can get started or a no so I can tell my previous school that I’m staying. Being in limbo is no fun. Whether a new coach is being hired at Mater Dei or Keppel six weeks is way too long to finalize the process.
With that being said a new head football coach at a local school will be announced soon. At least that that’s what I’m told. And no it’s not La Mirada. The question is what’s the time frame on soon?
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Congratulations to former Monrovia head coach Chris Williams who has landed at Harvard-Westlake as Assistant Head Coach/ Offensive Coordinator. Solid hire for a solid program.
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Speaking of La Mirada the word is they’re down to four candidates to replace Mike Moschetti who left to take over at St. Paul. One of the finalists is a local coach who is weighing the decision to leave his current school or take the La Mirada job. this is an important hire for the Matadores. The last time Moschetti resigned they went 7-15 in two years – 2017-’18. Moschetti returned in 2019 and the Mats went 7-4. The longer La Mirada goes without a head coach the better chance they have of key players leaving to other schools.
Update: La Mirada reportedly has hired a new coach and is expected to announce this week.
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I keep hearing Pasadena hired a new football coach but when I look into it I’m told no, they’re still waiting. Well, that’s what I was told the first time. Upon further review PHS has hired Dilan Clark as its new coach and was announcing as this was being written. Story posted.
Former Pasadena head coach Dejuan Shamburger has joined his former OC’s staff – Robert Maxie at Baldwin Park. You got to love what Maxie is doing at Baldwin Park. he recently hired Kevin Morton to join his coaching staff as the “Director of Recruiting”.
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Just to clear things up new Gabrielino head coach Joseph Hartnett is no relation to actor Josh Hartnett. Hartnett, the coach, has been at Rowland for the last eight years as an assistant.
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Kevin Encinas stepping down at San Gabriel came as a surprise. He left a big pair of shoes to fill for the successor. If Encinas showed anything in his four years as the head coach at San Gabriel it’s that the Matadors can be successful with the right coaching. Keith Jones did it, Jude Oliva did it and now Encinas. It’s important that the administration understands that.
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Kind of Ironic that with all of the talk about where Oliva would land after leaving Santa Ana College that he ended up at his old stomping grounds, Buena Park, as OC. Oliva’s name was mentioned for every head coaching job that popped up from the SGV to the OC to the Inland Empire.
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St. Paul at Bishop Amat on August 25th is going to be huge. Moschetti and the Swordsmen will be tested early. So will Amat for that matter especially with all of the player movement that the Lancers have experienced since the season ended.
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Speaking of St. Paul and Bishop Amat longtime assistant Donald Bernard has switched places. Bernard, who was at St. Paul throughout the Rick Zepeda era has joined the staff at Bishop Amat. And more importantly it didn’t even take six weeks to finalize it.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim.midvalleysports@gmail.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40. Facebook-Tim Peterson.
With the transfer portal in full swing there are by some estimates 50% or more fewer schlorships for D1 high school football players. Why take a chance on a highschooler when you can get a proven D1 performer.Last year USC team was made up of transfer portal players. Are reloading again this year.
unless someone is filling this guys pockets.
understand this
recruiting process is not the easiest thing and most kids and there families lose out bc they dont do the basice, EVERY SCHOOL should have someone who is designated to ensure these kids are being advertised , proper paperwork completed, proper classes being taken, etc.
its not about recruiting to bring kids, its about getting kids to play next level.
NOT JUST DIVISION 1, there is more football than d1, lets get these kids to stay motivated to stay in school and get a degree.
there is a school out there for everyone guys.
Key word big schools that have division 1 college football talent. Baldwin Park currently doesn’t have that, but am sure they will in the future the way maxie recruits
Especially in a public high school , position may have dressed up name as school wide position in sports elite private school, but BP?????
This confirms the wide gap between coaches who coach ,and coaches who primarily promote/recruit …and this is prime example of the latter
Most big high schools have recruiting coordinators. Now you know.
Talking about Baldwin park recruiting coordinator, never heard of such a thing in HS.
Recruiting coordinator??? Wth so how many transfers they got already, time to bolster that schedule.
Maybe he cant pass the background check?
@?, it is not the Nogales coach
From T. Peterson: No. From my understanding it’s an assistant from Orange HS.
SG must continue their relationship with the Rosemead Rebels.
The La Mirada hire was done by someone not affiliated with La Mirada at all. When they decided they didn’t want Chris Williams after being given his name, the main decision maker gave them another name and that’s who they went with…..
You have to wonder why Chris Williams applied to multiple places and didn’t receive an interview at any of them.
With the Nogales coach pretty much the guy going to La Mirada he should resign or Nogales fire him to get their search going for a new HC. And for La Mirada why the big delay. No big name coaches out there.
These coaching hires would carry more import if there were meaningful salaries attached, but since they carry the compensation of galley slaves, we should just be grateful that anybody is willing to take these spots.
@peterson when we finding out were Matt v is coaching next year after leaving Amat this offseason
Let me tell you the common threat of San Gabriel’s success and St Paul is Donald Bernard…
Any word on Bassett hiring a coach?
From T. Peterson: They haven’t hired anybody yet. They’re still interviewing.