By Tim Peterson
I’m still waiting for the official new head football coach announcement by a local school. It’s not a bombshell or earth-shattering news by any stretch. The fate of the world doesn’t hang in the balance. Heck, a lot of people won’t even care.
But the story is the coach was told he had the job on March 10th. Yes March. The. Tenth. Usually these things take about three days. Get the background checks, tell the kids, get board approval and done. Also typically the coach isn’t told that he has the job unless most of those things are already taken care of or are just mere formalities.
It doesn’t take two months to hire a new CEO of a Fortune 500 company or a Police Chief of a major city. I’ve seen million-dollar lawsuits settled quicker. I didn’t realize this hire was a matter of national security.
Passing Tournaments are already getting under way. Spring workouts are in full swing. At what point does the coach say, ‘No never mind. I’m good. I’ve got decisions to make.’?
I was told on that day in early March to wait to release it until it’s official. So I am waiting and waiting and waiting…
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Speaking of passing tournaments Baldwin Park threw at the “Battle at the Bank” on April 29th. The Braves went 0-4 on the day but were competing with some tough teams including Sierra Canyon, Golden Valley and Palos Verdes. Baldwin Park is using an athlete at quarterback right now and won’t bust out their starting quarterback for this season until summer according to head coach Robert Maxie.
The Charter Oak Tournament is set for Saturday May 20th. The host Chargers offense now has a new coordinator running the show. Last year’s OC Brian Tabatabai stepped down and has been replaced by Craig “Moose” Evans who was previously on Lou Farrar’s staff.
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Nice to see that El Rancho’s Angel Diaz will continue playing football at the next level as he recently signed to play at the University of La Verne. Diaz was one of toughest kids that I’ve ever seen take the field on the high school level.
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It seems like everybody wants to know where all of the proceeds go now for High School All-Star games. Based on past games it seemed like any profits that the game may make were eaten up by the costs of simply running the event. And I was right. Here’s what I got from Hector Spathias who is instrumental in putting together the North-South All-Star game scheduled for Friday night May 12th at Walnut High School.
“The host team gets a good chunk. It’s only fair. And what’s left goes to purchasing the jerseys, $5 million liability insurance for both schools for 14 days of practice and game day. We pay the referees. All the kids get a physical on us. Security and custodial fees. There are other fees, but it’s mostly a break even night.”
The North-South All-Star game kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. I’m just happy the seniors get one more game.
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The Colony 2023 football schedule is out. The Titans get a death march that includes Ayala, El Modena and Alta Loma right out of the gate and it doesn’t get much easier from there.
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As a reporter it always makes you feel good when you see a player that you covered in High School succeed. But when you see that player become the number one overall pick in the NFL draft it’s off the charts. I still remember seeing Bryce Young as a freshman at Cathedral and then Phantom head coach Kevin Pearson telling me “This kid is going to be special”. He didn’t say he was going to be the number one pick but he did say he was going to be special. And that he is.
Pearson is making it a habit of coaching special quarterbacks. He also coached Nico Iamaleava at Warren, who will be behind center for Tennessee in the fall.
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Former Monrovia defensive coordinator Jesus Pasten has been named the new DC at Arroyo. “I’m very excited about this new opportunity. Time to get to work,” Pasten posted on Facebook.
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With Mid-August as the starting point the High School football season kicks off in a little over 100 days. Maybe the school will have announced their new head football coach by then.
That’s my principle.
I can be reached at tim.midvalleysports@gmail.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40. Facebook-Tim Peterson
– Assuming you’re talking about the new Basset coach. Too bad for the kids. Quinsy gave them ample time to find a replacement.
-Baldwin Park already crowning a Freshmen as their QB? That’s a weird thing to do. There wasn’t a Comstock or Durnsolet announcement until after the kids were already at the school.
– The new all-star game seems to have stole the thunder of this second one.
– You’ve seen a lot of football games. That’s a huge feather in the cap for Diaz. Hope the young man does well!
– Colony has crazy talent!
– I remember people speaking negatively about Pearson for starting Bryce Young over an established Cathedral QB. Seems like it wasn’t a bad move after all. If only Bryce would have stayed at Cathedral.
The hiring process is troublesome for all and especially for the coaches involved ….school administrators have low priority on timeliness and are under pressure from sources that may have little to do with quality coaching. Their communication is inconsistent at best and the “ Board Process” can mask changes in outlook or general inefficiency.
CIF playoff structure allows this to be ok.
Fan alluded to Bassett situation, last year they stalled and hired Quinsey about July 1 ; we know this is too late to create a quality season / program. However Bassett benefits from being in one of the worst leagues in Sourhern California, gets into playoffs with 3-7 record wins a couple games in dreadful D14 and have ““successful season”. Quinsey then parlays this success into better job at Whittier . Bassett repeats “ successful” hiring pattern.
CIF says this is great because teams that can’t win now have a chance to win……and the general quality of football in SGV descends into mediocrity.
Schools will promise you job and clear communication., then leave you hanging with no compunction. It’s happened to me and many others .
You are so right Tim !!!
@peterson any word on were Matty V is coaching next season
Must be the Bassett Unified School District if it ain’t breaking news like you say
I really appreciate this site, you guys reporting on local HS sports.
For the most part, HS sports are about most kids working hard and trying to represent themselves, team, community, not necessarily for getting to the next level(s). As we older folks look back, the HS years and playing sports can looked back on fondly.
Nice to see Arroyo getting a solid guy on staff. I do believe the Knights will be just fine in the fall.