Whittier seeking Varos' replacements
The process for flying the soon-to-be-open positions of athletic director and boys basketball head coach at Whittier High School has begun, but no date for the actual opening has been announced.
Michael Varos' resignation from both positions was announced Thursday.
Two names of possible candidates for the coaching position that have come quickly to the minds of posters here are Whittier's girls basketball coach Willie Pittman and Pioneer High School boys coach Joey Mata.
Pittman, who led the Cardinals to back-to-back Del Rio League championship (sharing the 2008 title with California), said Friday morning that he is not interested in the boys position at this time.
Mata said Friday morning that his focus right now is 100 percent on his program at Pioneer, and that no one from Whittier, where he works in security, has contacted him about applying.
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About this blog
Roger Murray is the prep sports editor for the Whittier Daily News.
wtf: yes he is!
Yes mata is the new coach, and good luck to him! He is going to need it.
Yo Roger can you tell us if it's true that Coach Mata is the new boys coach at Whittier and who the front runner to replace Mata & if Santa Fe getting a new coach too
Well its true, Joey Mata is the new Head Coach at Whittier H.S. He a very good young coach I hope those kids at Whittier will follow him. Good Luck Joey
Wow that great if Coach Mata did take the Whittier job
Good luck on the season
Rumor has it Joey Mata (Pioneer HC) has been offered and accepted!
To Spprts fan,
Actually Whittier did not finished above third prior to ther arrival of the Amico’s. But if you remember when the Amico’s first arrived at Whittier the team finished 2nd, and the Amico’s were not the main players. They were a big help but if you remember there was a player by the name of Anna Costa that was the main scorer. Again it was not a one man team but a team effort. The point I am trying to make is that coach Willie Pittman is a great coach and knows how to coach all players. It doesn’t matter whether they have ever touched a basketball, he puts in the work and helps develop them into great players and people. He is a very dedicated coach and is capable of coaching anyone. So the comment basketball fan made about “The boys program can find a better suitor for the job.” Is all out of jealousy. Coach Pittman is suited to coach anyone, and the only reason why he probably wont take the job is because he again is very committed to the girls program. If you remember prior to Coach Pittman coming to Whittier. Whittier was 0-10 and the hard work Coach Pittman and previous players have put in has slowly but surely paid off. Whittier has progressed every year.And not only since the Amicos. And it is all thanks to the commitment of Coach Pittman and previous players.
Basketball fan and Anonymous
Only time will tell about Whittier and the Amico's. Both have a point. Did Whittier ever finish above third without them? I do not think so.
Anonymous, you are right, they play some kind of defense. They had one other girl, a junior, who could really shoot 3 pointers.
Obviously basketball fan does not know what they are talking about. First of all there is no I in team. Not one or two players can win a title all by themselves. If you watched Whittier play they didn’t just win because of the Amicos. There were other players who stepped up. Just because they didn’t score, doesn’t mean they didn’t make an impact. Its called playing your role. Don’t be jealous because Whittier has a great coach and program. The other schools just aren’t good anymore.
DelRioLeagueWatcher
I think the key is (teacher looking for work)how many schools have jobs to give. It's going to be someone within or someone who walks on. That seems to be the way schools are going.
Villegas couldn't carry Varos's jock!!
Pittman won league because of the Amico's. They brought that talent with them. They'll be lucky to finish in the top 3 next season. The boys program can find a better suitor for the job.
When you posting the Football job?
The guy to contact is Randy Villagas. He is a teacher looking for work and is a really good basketball coach.
Working under and replacing La Serna's Mike Lowe for two years. Makes him a good candidate. Whittier has good athletes and deserve a good coach.
My two cents on Varos; he is a good man off the court, but on the court excels in a different manner. Some people don’t agree with his coaching methods and the play of his players. I witnessed many a game where he just didn’t have a grasp on the right and wrong of many a situation. Rough play doesn’t score points, fouls give them up.
Best of luck Mike at coaching little league baseball with your son (those umpires don’t like to be yelled at).