Lorenzo Hernandez has taken over as the new head coach at Whittier.
By George Hernandez
I sat down with long time Garfield head coach Lorenzo Hernandez who will be at the helm for Whittier this next season after taking over for Jimmy Welker. Hernandez has put together a solid staff and has high hopes for the Cardinals.
Q: What’s up coach, how’s it going?
A: Hola, sir. Things are going well—slowly progressing to where we want to be as a staff and program as a whole.
Q: How was your year off from coaching?
A: I think the year off was a good thing. It gave me the opportunity to spend time with my son and help him settle into school at UCLA. I really appreciated the chance to watch him play for me at GHS and enjoy some much-needed quality time at home. It also allowed me to reflect on the positives and negatives of coaching, and to evaluate our program at Garfield from a different lens as an Athletic Director.
Q: After 24 successful years at Garfield that included a state playoff run, what made you want to take over a Whittier program that has one league victory in the last three seasons?
A: That’s a great question. What drew me to this position was the opportunity with Whittier entering a new league, a solid core of returning players, and a strong principal and administrative team that promotes a great academic culture.
Q: Will you be on campus working or just coaching?
A: I hope to be on campus and will find out after July 1. That’s a big reason I took the job. It’s critical to be on site to address issues and help shape expectations daily.
Q: You don’t have a Roosevelt here for a rivalry. Who are you looking to compete against the most in your new league?
A: There’s nothing quite like the Roosevelt game, but our goal is to raise the standard and create our own rivalries. Based on proximity, Pioneer HS stands out as our rival, but we also want to challenge top programs in the area like La Serna and St. Paul. No disrespect to any other schools, but our focus is on competing at a high level and building strong rivalries with whoever is at the top.
Q: We know you have Marc Shettleroe on staff. How’s the rest of your staff going to look?
A: We were very fortunate to bring Marc on board. He’ll serve as our Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach. He’ll be joined by some former Garfield coaches:
• Derek Wicks – WR / Passing Coordinator
• James Wicks – Defensive Coordinator
• Josh Chavez – Defensive Line (Garfield & Western HS)
• Carlos Hernandez – Special Teams
We also have a strong group already at Whittier with great experience:
• Matt Lozano – QB Coach
• Visko Ancich – LB Coach
• Matt Martinez – OL Coach
• Darrien Diaz – DB Coach
• Juan C. Aguilar – DL
• Cesar Franco – DL
New additions include:
• Jimmy Montoya – RB/TE (formerly South El Monte)
• Henry Polanco – Strength & Conditioning
Q: Any idea on what kind of offense you’ll have on the field? We know everyone likes airing it out now but what are you looking to do?
A: We will mold our offense to our personnel but our foundation will be pounding the ball and setting up the pass.
Q: What will be a successful first season for you as head coach of Whittier high school?
A: A successful season would be reaching a CIF section championship. We have a strong community and a great pool of student-athletes. With a seasoned staff, it’s an exciting opportunity to make a great run!
Q: You’ve been out there for a month now. Are there any players we should look out for this season?
A: Here are some of our varsity players to watch:
Nathan Cedano – Free Safety
Jayden Casas – CB/WR
Juan Castillo – Linebacker
Xavier Villasenor – LB/TE
Nathen Gallardo – OLB/RB
Joseph Medina – C/G/DE
Charlie Ancich – A rising star with great skill and strong football DNA
Q: Anything else you would like to say or let us know?
A: We want to build an inclusive environment and keep local kids at Whittier HS. The way will accomplish that is by creating a strong, positive football culture. We’re committed to working hard, bringing stability, and making Whittier football a staple in the community.
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What are the schools in Whittier’s Conference? What schools are in the league that Whittier was placed in? Thanks
Good Luck Coach
To all readers who believe a lack of experience as a head coach is not a big deal, I present the person of Lorenzo Hernandez as a powerful reminder that yes, experience can count for a great deal. The season remains months away, but the vibe coming from Whittier is one of excited optimism, the virtual opposite of what has to be going through the minds of St Paul and Pioneer supporters. Best of luck to Lorenzo in his latest position, and thanks to George Hernandez for another great interview.