MidValleySports.Com

Robert Maxie has already made a lot of noise in the SGV at his last job – the offensive coordinator at Pasadena. He made the Bulldogs relevant again and helped turn them into Pacific League champs while also making them post season contenders. Now he has taken on a new challenge as the head coach at Baldwin Park. Coach Maxie sat down with us recently to share his thoughts on his past experience and the upcoming season in a Q & A.

MVS: Some are aware but for those readers that are not where did you play your high school football and what position.

RM: I Played WR at John Marshall in Pasadena from 2001-2005

MVS: Did you play football after high school?

RM: After Marshall I played 2 seasons at Pasadena City College. After my 2 seasons I got right into coaching.

MVS: When did you decide you wanted to be a coach?

RM: As a Kid Plan A was always to make it to the NFL and if that didn’t happen Plan B was to coach. Plan B is going great for me and it was no choice because I don’t know what the Hell Plan C would be if I wasn’t coaching.

MVS: What was you first coaching job?

RM: My First coaching Job was at La Salle HS in Pasadena where I was hired to be WR coach and Special team coordinator by Antoine Peterson “Coach P”.

MVS: I understand that you coached Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young before high school. Did you realize how special of a player that he was? If yes then how?

RM: I’ve been blessed to be around some great athletes and families as I was growing as a coach. My first time watching Bryce play for the Valley Seahawks I saw a lot of Russell Wilson in his game. His pocket awareness and IQ at that age was ridiculous. Bryce’s talents have always been next level but his character has always set him apart for me. Normally when kids are really good and they know it they get a little cocky and selfish. Bryce has always been opposite of that. He always competed and carried himself like he has a point to prove. Craig And Julie are amazing people and it shows in their son. Yes, he went #1 but the job isn’t done yet. Bryce wants to be the best and he’s going to prove to everyone once again that he’s the best QB on this planet. He will win a Super Bowl with Carolina- sooner than later at that.

MVS: What did you do specifically at Pasadena to bring them back to being a strong, relevant program?

RM: I think I get more credit than I deserve honestly at Pasadena. There was a lot of talent already on that roster. I just brought the edge to get over the top. I’m 9-0 vs Muir in my coaching career and the first thing I had to do was get them to believe that Muir wasn’t on our level. We treated them like our little sisters for three seasons. A lot of it was mentality. I changed the mentality of the program. A lot of people were surprised we won the amount of games we did but honestly the kids and coaches expected to win. That was the difference. I didn’t do anything major. D Sham did an amazing job running that program.

MVS: What factors led you to take the Baldwin Park head coaching job?

RM: Simple…D Sham wanted to step down as HC. I wanted to step up. The administration there had a different vision I guess and when I got offered the BP job I decided to go with the admin that valued me and wanted me. BPUSD offers more opportunities for my family and coaches. I was hurt about leaving Pasadena. I didn’t want to leave but they honestly made it an easy decision for me.

MVS: Will your coaching style remain the same at Baldwin Park as it was at Pasadena? Or will your coaching philosophy change with a different program?

RM: My coaching style won’t change. I was hired here to be who I am and do what I do to change programs. My goal is simple here. Develop traits in our student athletes to become great men, fathers employees and husbands once they graduate from high school. Help kids be prepared to play at the next level and of course bring a championship to BP. I want this program to be on the same level as Bishop Amat, CO and La Serna. We want to be a premier team in the SGV. We’re not throwing games or cherry picking our schedule with hopes to get in a winnable division. To be considered the best you have to play the best. Expect that from us moving forward.

MVS: What coach had the biggest influence on you and why?

RM: I’ve been blessed to work under some great Head Coaches. Antoine Peterson installed a lot into that – not only made me a better coach but also a better man and father. Coach Pearson took my X’s and O’s game to the next level. The time I got to spend with Mike Leach and Tony Franklin has always kept me ahead of the game. Pearson has showed me a lot and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the knowledge he passed on to me. My brother Andrew Policky gave me my first shot at running an offense. Early on I put him in some tough positions with my immaturity and some of my social media behavior. He never gave up on me and he continued to help me become a better decision maker when I probably should have been fired. With D Sham it’s simple. Being with him taught me one thing for sure. When it’s time to become a head coach and find a school with an admin that cares and values the football program because I never seen a head coach work as hard as Sham for crumbs. He literally did everything and I really do mean everything for that program, but he loved those kids and his actions showed it.

MVS: How does the Baldwin Park squad look so far this summer? Who are some of your key players going into the 2023 campaign?

RM: Things are going well, I’m excited to see this team hit the field and compete. We got some great leadership in Eric Hernandez, Chase Blackwell, Corey Lacy and Caleb Calvin. We’re pretty good at every position especially QB. Jacob Garcia is a special talent and we also got some great young skill guys in Elvis Diaz and Dahryion Vaughn. Harley Wirth will be great on both sides of the ball and Randle Tebo will be making big plays on offense and defense. It should be a great year for us. I can go on and on because we got a great solid young group of football players. The future is bright at BP.