By Tim Peterson
(Temple City) – Riley Saxon has returned as the head football coach at Temple City he confirmed Saturday. Saxon had stepped down after the 2021 Spring season and did not coach last year.
Saxon takes over for Laron Johnson who resigned last month after just one season.
Saxon took over for Marc Shettleroe after the 2016 campaign and guided the Rams to a 5-4 record in his first year in 2017 but missed the playoffs.
The Rams then went 4-5 the following year and 2-6 in 2019. After the 2020 campaign was canceled due to COVID-19 the Rams played just one game in 2021 spring season and lost to South Pasadena. Temple City went 11-16 during Saxon’s four-year tenure.
“There were a lot of factors in my decision. The assistant coaches that were working with the kids during the summer are awesome! So knowing they were staying, how much I care for the kids and the program, and having the support of the admin and my wife made it an easy call,” Saxon said. “My kids being older (and my four year old really liking sports in general) helped a lot too.
Temple City went 0-10 last season.
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So it sounds like Coach Race is sticking around. I wonder what was the criteria of
being a HC at Temple City. Good Luck to the team.
It’s a “funny “ thing how administrators handle these situations . I know nothing of the particulars but when you are seen in assistant coach role , it’s difficult to break through typecast ceiling . There’s little relationship between responsibilities and title …….hopefully good relationship between Saxon and your identified assistant!
So what happened to Coach Race? I was sure he would stick around. I watched them,
in a couple of 7v7 Tourneys and he had them looking pretty good. Probably money.
I few programs were trying to hire him. I knew he was pretty loyal to TC. Good luck
to those young men. From what I saw in spring, those players played well.
As a Temple City Parent I think this has been unfair for the boys. Let’s be honest in this article , it’s clear someone with the proper authority did not want Coach Rayce to have this position and begged to have Saxon come back because of some personal reason?? This is not to be congratulated, he is literally snatching this position away from the assistant coach who well deserves this position. If Saxon is an actual good person and knew everything the players and coaches went through last season then without a doubt he wouldn’t have stole this position, but because he has seniority he can, what does this man have to prove ? He is already known to be a good coach. Congratulations. Don’t give into the toxic politic side at TC. Do what is right for the boys. The Boys KNOW coach Rayce and respect him and as a mother I know it’s better for kids to stick with that. My son looks up to him and he is more then capable of doing the job, because it’s not a job for him it’s amazing the love and respect that team has BECAUSE of coach Rayce. This a long with so many more details need to be heard.
Assistant Coach Rayce was made the interim head coach for over a month with his father as assistant. He kept this program alive for Saxons return! Johnson abandoned the program long before people know.
Laron Johnson unofficially abandoned those kids the entire offseason. The assistant coaches have been molding these kids for months. Saxon just showed up at the end with the title. Temple City is gonna have break out season. Assistant Coach Rayce has been prepping these kids in the shadows for some time. Exciting Football to be had!
Why didn’t they get the coach from Valley Express 7v7 team ? I saw them in a couple of Tourneys.
He had those players from Temple City competing. Good luck to them
Stop it. The other guy quit what two weeks ago? And now Sexon stepped in. Kids haven’t even got pads yet, it’s fricken dead period anyways they ain’t even doing anything. What coach are you that didn’t make it back on staff?
Good luck Saxon! TC is lucky a worthy coach stepped up. Kudos to the assistants that stuck it out. If not for them the program may have folded.
It’s clear that whatever heavy lifting those assistants did in the offseason is a burden lifted from Saxon’s shoulders, which allows him to step-in late and be coach for the games only. This harkens back to the way Brett Favre used to show-up just prior to the season’s start, avoiding all that off-season drudgery. A couple wins and this guy’s a hero, but my praise goes to those assistants who put-in the hours while Saxon bided his time.
The cupboard is bare and the numbers are low but nowadays it’s not about wins/losses with TC. It’s about teaching life’s lessons, respect, brotherhood and commitment. Good luck Riley.
That’s the best possible development for TC ; maybe they can win a couple games!