By MVS Staff
Jesse Ceniceros has had several high school head coaching stops. He most recently was the head coach at El Monte where he led the Lions to a CIF Championship as well as a State title in 2019. He also coached the Penny brothers, Elijah and Rashaad, at Norwalk who are currently in the NFL. Ceniceros was recently named the new head coach at Sierra Vista. We had the opportunity to sit down with Ceniceros for a Q & A.
Q: Where did you play your high school football? What position did you play?
A: I played my high school ball at Bloomington High School. I played MLB. I graduated in 1991 and played for head coach Carl Beach.
Q: Did you play football after high school? If so where and what position?
A: I played college ball at the University of Redlands, where I played linebacker as well.
Q: When did you decide you wanted to be a high school football coach?
A: Playing football since I was 8 years old, I always knew that I wanted to have football in my life. In my transition from college life to real life, I discovered that I could make a living coaching football and teaching. I made decision to not let my college degree create my path, but forged a path in coaching and public education instead.
Q: What was your first coaching job?
A: My first coaching job was in 1994 at Bloomington High School. It was Don Markham’s first year at Bloomington. I had heard so much about him, and found it to be a great opportunity to learn from him. I asked Don if I could help coach, and Don gave me an opportunity to coach at the JV level.
Q: Of all of the high school head coaching jobs that you had what was the biggest challenge?
A: My biggest head coaching challenge had to be my first year at Barstow High School in 2006. We had to try and change the culture and mindset in the kids. Academically and socially, we turned things around and made the playoffs that season.
Q: When you first took the El Monte job did you have any idea that you would have the success that you had?
A: When I first took the El Monte job, I most certainly knew that we would have success. At this point in my career, I had developed my own blueprint for success. This blueprint was designed by my experiences of being an assistant coach with legends like Don Markham and Dick Bruich, and learning most of all from my former players. Over the years, you learn what works and what doesn’t. The one thing that all my experiences had in common was WORK. I had heard that the El Monte boys were tough and not afraid to work. So yes, I was confident that we would have success.
Q: To win not only a CIF Title but a State championship at El Monte as well was it simply a matter of the kids just buying into the program? What type of things did you implement in the program to have that type of success?
A: During that championship run, we didn’t change a thing from all the previous years. During that year leading up to the start of the season, I was in and out of the hospital due to a family members medical blessing. There were many times when I couldn’t make a practice or make a weight lifting session. In my absence my assistant coaches had my back and the program ran without glitch. I will never forget the fortitude and character of my assistant coaches, and for this I will always have their back. I am blessed to have a group of coaches who are more like family than coaching colleagues. So in answering this question, I didn’t change anything, but learned that I am blessed to have the assistant coaches that I do.
Q: What coach had the biggest influence on you and why?
A: The coach that had the biggest influence on me has been Coach Ceniceros Sr., my dad. I have been around football my entire life. You see my dad coached youth football before I was born. City of Commerce and Montebello. Then when I started playing; Maravilla and Rialto Jr. All-American, my dad was my coach. He showed me how to play the game with passion. Most importantly he showed me that a football field is a great equalizer. Once that opening kick-off happens it doesn’t matter how big your house is, how much money your parents make, or where the origins of your last name are from. No better feeling than bringing a bunch of kids from all backgrounds and dominating on the football field!
Q: What factors did you consider when you took the head coaching job at Sierra Vista?
A: I considered a few things; was my entire coaching family going to have the opportunity to coach? Are the kids hungry and ready to work for championships on a yearly basis? Finally, was Sierra Vista understanding of the work load of a head coach?
Q: Will you bring the same approach to Sierra Vista that you did to El Monte and the other coaching jobs that you have had?
A: We will change nothing. We will start from the ground up and make Sierra Vista a SGV powerhouse with hard work and the creation of a family atmosphere that is unique to our program.
Q: Who are the five best players that you ever coached? I think I know a couple.
A: Man this is a tough one. In no particular order: All of my players throughout the years. They all were willing to WORK FOR IT, rather than wishing for it. Seriously, I respect all of my players. I’ve learned a little something from every single one of them.
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I played with JESSE in football and wrestling no cutting corners he straight up he doesn’t sugarcoat things and administrators don’t like that he’s a great coach hopefully one day he’ll get his chance to move up the ranks and go to college and from there Unless you know him personally don’t talk trash!!!
I watched coach C at Bloomington , Barstow and El Monte. He coached against my kids teams at Serrano. When kids are willing to run through a wall for their coach and vice versa you know somethings being done right.
Pat G. EMHS 71′
@SoCal
I think you are right, but you must of hit a sore spot. I know the truth hurts, but Jesse is good for high school football. He rubs people the wrong way and yes other administration don’t like working with him, but he wins games. Schools that are desperate like SV, EM, etc… will hire him, but schools like South Hills, Covina etc… will not. The proof is in the putting.
@Socal
WOW ! …… sound like someone that was left at the altar….. get over it, move on, let it go! SoCal
It would have been interesting to see him take the South Hills job or another big time program. I know transfers are everywhere but they are rare at SV and EM. At big time programs recruiting is much more common so there’s not really an advantage because everyone does it. It’s game changing at SV and EM because one good player can run circles around the other team. SV is back on the map for now. Let’s see if coach can build another winner.
Run out of Chino? 9-3 first year and injuries to multiple players second year cost them. Before Ceniceros and staff got there they were missing the playoffs and go in the playoffs and won milk can for first time since leaving this past year.
You are right it’s probably what he runs and that’s just cause it’s not pretty like what they see on Sundays and what Bosco and MD does. It’s worked everywhere look at the records.
EMHS could still have him and the kids that left when he did or just didn’t play. All cause the principal didn’t have the guts to speak up and go against Torres. Now the guy they had well at least they thought they had as their next HC Calderon is heading to South Hills. They had loyalty to him over Coach C and now look he’s turning his back on them.
This is why this staff has been together since Norwalk, the loyalty, love and respect they have for each other. No man left behind.
@bottom line
You can not run that offense at a private school, that’s why Jesse got ran out of Chino High School. All the good athletes where transferring out of Chino and going to Ayala. Jesse is where he is supposed to be and he knows it, that’s why he took the Sierra Vista job.
The missing link in Jesse’s coaching career is having an administration that is willing to work as hard for him as do his players. It makes one wonder how this fine leader would fare at a private school, where he would be paid handsomely just to coach the sport. Best of luck to the man as he takes the reins at Sierra Vista.
That’s a clown response Not every Coach has the same work ethic and family values . When you have a family atmosphere the players play harder for the coach. There’s transfers all over the place if they want to transfer to play for him because of his Winning ways what’s the problem . Loyalty Is amazing thing His coaches are extremely loyal to him i Because they know he’s extremely loyal to them
Whatnot guy or whatever you call yourself, don’t be a clown people want to play for a winner some people don’t need to recruit just accept it and move on
What evidence do you have of this accusation?
Interesting part of coach is his is staff is loyal they have followed him to each coaching stop no questions asked
Great interview,great coach. To me what this points out is the itinerant nature of even a great coach in the public high school sector. Coach has had to bounce from school to school to school to ply his trade with no respect from administrators and no monetary payoff, only pride in ones accomplishments and the accomplishments of his players. That is their payday. Kindergarten teachers earn the same money. For him and all high school coaches that has to be enough.
Why not ask “Why transfers follow wherever he goes?” Also “Why do the programs you leave completely fall apart? Is it because of the recruiting?”