New Cantwell head coach Daniel Fierro
By George Hernandez
I talked with new Cantwell head football coach Daniel Fierro who took over for Eddie Ficklin Jr. Fierro looks to turn around a team that went 1-9 last season.
Q: What’s up coach? How’s it going?
A: What’s going on brother? Everything is going pretty well. I can’t complain. Appreciate you reaching out.
Q: How does it feel to finally get the opportunity to be a head football coach?
A: I’m truly blessed. The journey has been one that has tested my faith and my patience, but I truly believe that I’m meant to be at this destination. Excited to be a part of the CSHM family.
Q: Can you tell us about your life in football, like the places you played and have coached?
A: I played at Nogales High School, spent some time at Citrus college before getting hurt. I lost my mom to cancer shortly after getting hurt and I didn’t feel the same drive to continue playing. I was given an opportunity to start coaching at St. Thomas Aquinas for a few years before transitioning to Buena Park HS. I’ve also spent time at Workman and El Monte as an OC. My mentor helped our group navigate to Calabasas and Bishop Alemany as offensive assistant. After that I was the OC at Don Lugo HS. My most recent stop was a Downey HS helping out the offense.
Q: What attracted you to Cantwell after the rough year they had last yea?
A: I want to say it was in a sense Divine Intervention. I grew up in the Montebello area as a kid. I’ve had family that went to Cantwell and have ties within the area. I applied at a few schools and each school decided to go in a different direction. When I had seen Cantwell open I thought it was a great opportunity. The community, alumni and admin are all great. I can relate to the kids on campus and in the area. This place is special and we want to show people how special this place can and will be.
Q: I’ve known you while coach and I know what you do. Can you tell the people what’s your offensive philosophy?
A: Everyone labels myself and our offensive staff as guys who throw the ball. We take what the defense gives us. Whether it be running the ball or throwing it, the goal is to showcase our athletes in space. We want to give our playmakers opportunities to be special. Up front we want to be physical.
Q: Who is your staff going to consist of? Are you bringing in a whole new staff or keeping some guys on?
A: So our staff consists of guys who I trust. We’ve all been around each other for roughly 10 plus years. We aren’t going to drop names of our coaches just yet, but they will be announced this upcoming week after we meet with the parents. We are keeping some coaches from the prior staff, but mostly new to the program.
Q: I know it’s only been a few days, but have you been able to meet any of the players and if so who are we going to have to look out for?
A: I met with our team this past week and have talked with a few of the guys in our program. We’ve also watched some film so we have an idea of who can do what. A few guys that we’re excited about are Vincent Naranjo ATH, Michael Coria OL/DL, Owen Martinez WR/DB, Phoenix Fultcher RB/LB, Max Ochoa RB/LB, Matthew Escobedo QB.
Q: Is your schedule set and ready to go? Any games that you are looking forward to?
A: Our schedule is set. That will be announced this week as well. We look forward to competing against everyone. We always emphasize competition. Some games I personally look forward to are Montebello as they’re coming off a Championship game appearance, Nogales as I’m an Alumni and my boy Kevin Encinas just got the job there, All of our league games.
Q: What is your ideal outcome for your team as a first year head coach?
A: We plan to compete for league, that’s goal number one. Earn a playoff berth is goal number two. I’m big on us being physical and competing. We will line up and execute our assignment. I want to give these kids a fun experience. You get four years of high school and I think giving them a great experience is crucial. We want to build a culture and a standard, if we do this in year one, I consider it a huge win for our program.
Q: Is there anything you would like to say or let the people know?
A: We are excited to be here. We were blessed with a special opportunity. We want to bring energy and excitement back to the area and community. We are ready to work. I look forward to pouring knowledge and life values into our program. Cardinal Nation is the Destination. Hope to have you come out to a game Big George.
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Fierro will get the job done, new this man since the citrus days
Played vs him in high school.
Good luck coach go handle business big dawg.
Who knows we’ll probably meet in the playoffs this year.
Peterson! I very much respect your reply to the person who truly thinks Cantwell hiring a first time head coach.. And I think you may have opened his mind a bit? I know one very important fact about new head coaches (well I believe this anyway) ! Some new head coaches have learned some good things working under the head coaches, especially if the head coaches were good coaches. There are several skills that make a head coach a quality one. BUT ? There are equally as many negative things that assistant coaches pick up as an assistant; and ‘New head coaches can pick and choose some skills to use in his strategy , or philosophy that he respects . BUT also there are times when becoming a head coach that ‘YOU NEED TO THROW OUT / DON’T USE THE BAD THINGS YOU SAW WHEN ASSISTING BECOME PART OF YOUR PROGRAM . Know what to bring with you and definitely throw out know the negative stuff you observed assisting. Thanks for your quality knowledge on this
Coach Daniel Fierro, again I am so proud of your selection as the new HC at Cantwell. I enjoyed working with you at EMHS. Sincerely, John Kovac PA Announcer 🦁
Nice going! A head coaching job at a Catholic private school in Southern California. Must be worth at least 200k a year.
Let me put it another way: if Cantwell and St Paul football were listed on the New York stock exchange, would their recent coaching hires boost or depress their share prices?
From T. Peterson: Boost.
@Bottom line
You bring in an older guy that ain’t coaching people say you’re recycling a has been or hired for the name. But for the young guys you get what you said no experience. What happens if he goes out there and wins? “oh Cantwell did a great job” . Plus who applied at Cantwell that was better?
From T. Peterson: Exactly.
If you wouldn’t feel comfortable having an apprentice mechanic putting your car’s transmission back together, or a first-time surgeon doing your heart bypass operation, then just maybe you can come around to the notion that a beginner HC for a school’s most visible sport is not the best of ideas.
It doesn’t take a lot of mental gymnastics to understand that Cantwell and St Paul are choosing the cheap route on their coaching hires, hoping to rope the eternal optimists among us into believing that a nice surprise is in store. But how much of their own money would these true believers be willing to bet on the success of these two tightwad programs?
From T. Peterson: Belichick was once a first-time head coach. So was Lombardi, Jimmy Johnson, and even Sean McVay for that matter. You do know that when McVay took over as the Rams HC he had no previous NFL head coaching experience right? What do you know? He’s been pretty successful. besides Montoya last year at Schurr I’ve seen several cases where a first- time coach was successful in the 25 plus years I’ve been covering High School Football. Sorry I’m not buying it. I like the hire.
How serious is Cantwell about its football program? They are choosing to go with a man who possesses zero head coaching experience. If a public school does this, they are regarded as desperate. When a private place does this, it’s a virtual death-knell for whatever sport is involved.
From T. Peterson: I’ve heard this before but every coach at one time had no head coaching experience. That’s why you become a head coach – to get experience. It doesn’t mean you’re not a good coach. Last year coming into Schurr Austin Montoya had no head coaching experience and he turned it into a head coaching job at St. Paul. Never understood this argument.
Hear nothing but good things about Coach Fierro. But Cantwell is a tough place to win at. Down the street form the 60, no reason why they shouldn’t be as good as the other 2 privates in the area St Paul and Salesian. But it will take a drastic shift in the way there AD and administration do things.
One of the more informative coach preview pieces ….im glad he’s getting an opportunity as HC after paying his dues at various schools . Good luck Coach !