Coaches coach; players play
The "suggestions' of candidates for the area's high school football coach of the year are both qppreciated and interesting.
Many of the reasons shared for personal choices have been both insightful and well-founded.
That is good.
Some of them obviously have been influenced by what the heart desires.
And that is OK.
And there are those derived from a personal agenda that often clouds
reason and logic.
And that is, .... well, for some, that is just human nature.
It would be well to consider that good coaches and managers teach
fundamentals about the game and life, and to do this they participate in the process
both mentally and physically, they motivate and counsel and most of all,
they delegate authority and responsibility.
The latter involves surrounding themselves with a solid support group
made up of assistant coaches.
Some of you who have responded here acknowledge that fact. But there are
others who prefer to credit an assistant coach for a team's success, and
in the process, whether intentional or not, they discredit and/or in
some instances, demean the head coach.
By doing so, they are ignoring the fact it is the coach who is
responsible for hiring the assistant in the first place.
Head coaches being considered for COY honors have
their fingerprints all over their programs, and while they are first to
share the spotlight with their assistants, ultimately they are
responsible for the success of their program.
To think any less of them would be unrealistic, illogical and most of
all, uninformed and foolish.
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About this blog
Roger Murray is the prep sports editor for the Whittier Daily News.
Casagran or Ward would be great, although there is another name that someone recently mentioned to me, but i'm not supposed to say it, if this person coaches the ranch we will be a perrenial power. Lets wait and see what happens, the time is ticking.
My push is for Jose Casagran to take this job at El Rancho. In the five years he coached at Roosevelt he ran the wing-t. Dont know where you get the spread offense from. Previous to his head coaching job at Roosevelt he was the defensive coordinator at Garfield High.
Personally, I like Joe Ledesma and he may be the safest choice at this time. I doubt he is the best choice though...
No El Rancho alumni nor current AP Ayala, would want Ancich at the ranch. Ask Frank Mazzota over at Cerritos. He's been heckled all season by his former ER buddies for allowing Ancich to coach there...
Will see what Ellis decides...
Imo, the guy I want is Rick Ward, he won a few league titles and went to the semis with La Puente a few years back. Greg Setlich still regrets leaving the ranch and im sure would tell Ward to take the job in a heart beat. All the guys I mentioned previously are all just rumored to be interested. I heard Gibson at Orange High showed some interest a couple of weeks ago, but we can forget about him since he took the job at some brand new high school in the OC. We shall see what happens, I cant wait till we get our new coach. Hopefully it brings back some special times at the ranch similar to that magical 2000 season when Greg Setlich took over Patricio.
Yo, El Rancho/Big Red: A solid list, ER, but maybe just wishful thinking?
Interesting analysis, Big Red.
Caffrey's not interested;
History shows Casagran's offensive philosophy won't sit well with Dons' faithful;
Ancich solid where he is, at least in his mind and boosters';
Arnold's been at The Ranch, may know too much about it to return;
Oviedo's doing a good job at HHW, why rock the boat?
Rick Ward, works under ex-ER coach Greg Setlich, who would probably him in with the necessary information;
and Big Red's probably right on concerning Ledesma's chances.
"Tradition-rich" El Rancho is a tough place to work. A lot of coaches think they'd just come and do things their way, and find out that's not the way it works at The Ranch.
El Rancho this is what I think
Jon Caffrey- would be the best pick he has head coaching experience and would get the best out of his players but I don't think he would leave WC
Jose Casagran- Head coaching experience but I heard that he would run the spread off. don't think it would work at the ranch
Dusan Anchich- has a gold mine at cal but brings too much bad attention to the school that he coaches at if you know what I mean also he would run power off. again would not work at the ranch
Jim Arnold- makes too much money at sunny hills
Robert Oviedo- don't know maybe he's tired of losing in the Miramonte league nothing against him tough league
Rick Ward- is that the same coach who was at la puente if so good coach thats all I know about him fill me in more about him
Joe Ledesma- great guy he loves the ranch it would be his dream would bring back the pride of playing for the ranch Iknow this is going to sound weird but I don't think he's head coach material he would be a quick fix but it would not last long
Heres who I have heard may be interested.
Jose Casagran - ex Roosevelt Head Coach
Dusan Ancich - Cal Hi Head Coach
Jim Arnold - Sunny Hills Head Coach
Robert Oviedo - HH Wilson Head Coach
Rick Ward - Assistant at Don Lugo
Joe Ledesma - ER Assistant
The ranch deserves a proven coach, not someone who only has experience coaching freshmen football.
Schurr High finally put a coach who did not have a big head nor put his buddies whom played or party with him. This coach had a open mind and was a coaches and players fan. Letting ex coach ken davis fired up the troops before the game was just respect. Hiring Rudy Jordan as assist who is well educated is just smart. Fans need to know the truth about these Head coaches not only who they knew to get these jobs, but the result in the long run not the short. Roger put their bio on the paper like win/lost/tie or what college did they or coaches attend. What ex players recieve a college degree and not just working at Burger King. This is where whittier will show it's real colors.
Whittier fb Fan:
No truth to the rumor that Coach Jon Caffrey has shown interest in the El Rancho HS football vacancy. He's says he's very comfortable right where he is.
Wow that's Jim Patricio's favorite saying. "PLAYERS GOTTA PLAY"
El Rancho job could be intersting. I heard Caffrey from WC is applying. COuld be a real good fit.
Yo, scj:
Coach Picon said applications would be sent out in early January and hopefully the position would be filled by the last school board meeting near the end of February (22nd??). He is unaware of any "official" applications received to date.
"El Rancho High School football coach Willie Reyna made it official late last week when he submitted his resignation as school officials. Athletic director Dominic Picon said, "I think it was mutually agreeable on both sides. I think he felt it was time to move on. He is still teaching in the classroom at El Rancho.""
Roger.....what is the latest rumor on his replacement? Someone off the staff at the Ranch or some up and coming assistant from one of the local programs? Based on the success the Whittier Area teams has this year I would think that the RAnch could not go wrong by grabbing one of those assistants to rebuild the program.
El Rancho High School football coach Willie Reyna made it official late last week when he submitted his resignation as school officials. Athletic director Dominic Picon said, "I think it was mutually agreeable on both sides. I think he felt it was time to move on. He is still teaching in the classroom at El Rancho."
Whats the word on Willie Reyna at the ranch?
As we all know a good head coach makes a difference ,but a good head coach with a great staff is priceless
Santa Fe could beat the Raiders. I'm not sure Cal Hi could without Grigsby.
Totally off the subject, but somehow I find it appropriate that in the prep sports story listing right now is a story on Aaron Brooks and the Raiders.
We are very fortunate to be able to watch some very good football being played at the Whittier Area high schools.
There are great programs in place at St. Paul, Whittier Christian, Cal Hi, Santa Fe, La Serna and Schurr. All went to the playoffs this year. You saw Pioneer and Whittier making some noise this year as well.
A parent looking to place their boy in a good school with a good atheletic program really doesn't have to go that far to look.
Job well done. You could not have said that any better. The head coach is the hero and the zero in the same quarter. Its not that one coach is better than the other they work as a team but the head coach takes the glory and the fall. I will say our area was represented well with some great coaching staffs. We had La Habra, St. Paul & Whittier Christian. Great job to all coaches.