MidValleySports.Com

By George Hernendez

I sat down with new San Dimas head football coach Dylan O’Leary and talked about this upcoming season, it being his alma mater and taking over a successful program.

Q: What’s up coach, how’s it going?

A: It’s going great, I appreciate you having me. It’s been a busy couple of weeks getting settled in, meeting the players, connecting with the community, and getting everything moving in the right direction. I’m excited to be here.

Q: Congrats on your first head coaching job. How much more special is it that it’s at your alma mater?

A: Thank you! It makes it incredibly special. San Dimas is home for me. I grew up in this program, played three sports here, and made lifelong friends. Now having the opportunity to come back and lead the football program means a lot. There’s a real sense of pride and responsibility that comes with that.

Q: Can you let us know about your football journey, from high school and now through coaching?

A: I played quarterback here at San Dimas and graduated in 2019. After that, I got into coaching pretty quickly. About a year after graduating, Coach Holman asked if I wanted to join the staff and coach the quarterbacks. I spent two seasons here at San Dimas before moving to South Hills at 21, where I was the offensive coordinator for four years. That experience helped me grow a lot as a coach, especially in developing an offense and working with players at a high level. Now I’m excited to bring everything I’ve learned back to San Dimas.

Q: You’re taking over for a really good coach who you know in Mark Holman. Does that add any extra pressure?

A: Coach Holman did a great job here and built a strong program. There’s definitely a level of responsibility that comes with following someone like that, but I look at it more as an opportunity than pressure. My goal is to build on what’s already been established and continue pushing the program forward.

Q: Staff wise I know you’ve posted that on X. Is your staff set and who do you have taking this ride with you?

A: I’m really excited about the staff we’ve put together. We have a great mix of experienced coaches and guys who have strong ties to San Dimas and the surrounding community. A lot of them have been part of successful programs, and more importantly, they’re great mentors for our players.

We have several San Dimas alumni on staff, including myself, Jordan Taylor, Dillon Corona, Austin Rivera, and Ryan Bulick. We’ve also added very experienced and proven coaches like Kevin Glaspy and Justin Kosik, along with returning staff members Greg Saris, Alex Fuentes, Mike Caceres, and Daniel Robles. We also brought in William Nickell, a young coach who has worked alongside Coach Kosik and brings great energy and a strong work ethic to the staff. 

I think we have a great balance of young energy and veteran experience, and I’m really excited to work with this group. We’re still looking to fill some lower-level positions, but we have a few people in mind.

It’s also bigger than just the coaching staff. My family and friends, player families, former teachers, and members of the community have all reached out offering support. It really shows how strong the San Dimas community is, and that support is definitely felt.

Q: How is your scheduling looking for the 2026 season? Anyone new, anyone you can’t wait to play?

A: The schedule is shaping up well. We’ve got a good mix of familiar opponents and some new challenges, which is exactly what you want. Our guys are excited to compete no matter who’s across from us, and we’re looking forward to every opportunity.

We’ll be posting the full schedule once it’s finalized. I’m also excited about the new league—it’s going to be tough and very competitive. And of course, the Smudgepot game against Bonita is one I’m really looking forward to. It’ll be back at Mt. SAC, and the last time San Dimas won that game, I was the quarterback.

Q: We all know San Dimas has been a ground and pound school for years, are you going to keep it that way?

A: San Dimas has had a lot of success over the years, and we respect everything that’s been built here. At the same time, we’re going to put our own identity on things. We’ll still be physical and disciplined, but we’re going to open things up a bit and use the full field. The goal is to be balanced, get our playmakers in space, and play to our strengths.

Q: What do you consider a good first season as head coach at San Dimas?

A: For me, it’s about building a strong foundation. That means establishing our culture, holding our standards every day, and developing our players on and off the field. If we do those things consistently, the results will take care of themselves.

I also want to make each game a true community event. I have deep roots in San Dimas, and I want to get everyone involved to make Friday nights special—not just for the players and their families, but for alumni, teachers, students, sponsors, and the entire community.

Q: I know you’ve been out there for a few weeks now, any players we should look out for this upcoming season?

A: We’ve got a lot of guys working hard right now, and it’s still early. Our first practice is Monday, April 6, so I’ll know a lot more after that.

Some guys I’m aware of and want to shout out are senior TE/DE Michael Baeza, senior RB/LB Liam Loyola, senior OL/DL Devin Gonzales, senior RB/DB Adam Damato senior, and RB/LB Gavin Westervoorde. We’ve got a strong group that’s bought in and competing every day, and as we get closer to the season, more names will definitely start to stand out.

Q: Thank you coach for your time is there anything you would like to say or let the people know?

A: I just want to say I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to be back. We’re going to work every day to represent San Dimas the right way. I’m looking forward to building something special with our players, our staff, and the community.