The Don Lugo football team made great strides in the last two years under coach Luis Garcia. Well a veteran has taken over the reigns and should keep the ship headed in the right direction.

Greg Gano, who has had stints at Hacienda Heights Wilson, Damien and Los Altos, has retained most of the previous coaching staff and there are a lot of returning players so the transition has been a smooth one.

The Conquistadores were impressive over the summer winning two passing league tournaments. If nothing else, Don Lugo will start the new season with momentum and confidence.

“Those things don’t always mean a lot but we did beat some good teams,” Gano said. “I think we opened some eyes. We’re very excited about starting the new season.”

Of course it all starts and ends with a quarterback Don Lugo has one back in junior Rudy Garcia. He spent most of the season as a backup but had to step in when starter Dane Ford got injured late in the season and did an admirable job.

There are plenty of other starters returning too though, particularly along the offensive line, an area that Gano singles out as the strength of the team this season..

That unit is led by center Trevor Goulet, who will also play on the other side of the ball. Others pitching in there will include seniors Chris Torres, Tito Torento and Aaron Ngyuen and junior Chris Randazzo.

The Conquistadores graduated their top two rushers, one of those Ford, but there are plenty of contributors ready to shoulder the load – most notably junior Khoury Bethley, senior Zak Murray and sophomore Chris Perez.

The stable of receivers features senior Kendale Taylor, juniors Daniel Munguia, Thomas Delgado and Nico Lara, a transfer from Chino who won’t be eligible until the sixth week.

The biggest question mark appears to be the defensive line but Gano isn’t overly concerned. That group is headed by seniors Jason Gardner and Connor Wilt, junior Andy Esparza and sophomore Jack McNaughton.

“We have players at every position,” he said. “We don’t have as much experience there. We just have to find the right combination.”

Bethley and Taylor will also be important to the defensive effort in the secondary.

Among the others expected to be big contributors defensively are linebackers Tzion Dixon, Anthony Miller, Steve Quijada and Albert Luevano.

“The job really has energized me,” Gano said. “I can’t wait for the first game.”

Don Lugo plays a difficult non-league schedule, starting with Warren on Aug. 26. That’s a foe that went 8-3 last year. Other teams on the schedule are reigning league champions Pomona (Miramonte) and Northview (Valle Vista) as well as Chino and Rancho Cucamonga who look to be among the best teams in the Inland Valley this season.

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Another of the local high school football openings has been filled as Greg Gano has been selected to take over the Don Lugo program. The move is pending school board approval later this month.

Gano, 59, follows Luis Garcia who helped the program back to respectability in his two years as the Conquistadores made the playoffs both seasons. .

Gano was most recently head coach at Hacienda Heights Wilson, directing that program for two years. Before that he served at Damien for four years. He was also at Los Altos for more than a decade.

“I am excited about getting a fresh start,” he said. “I know coaches that have been on staff here before and it has always seemed like a great place to be.”

Gano has yet to meet with his players but plans to do so in the near future.

The other task is putting together a coaching staff. A massive overhaul is not expected. Gano said he hopes to keep several of the coaches from Garcia’s staff, which should ease the transition for the players.

“I might bring in a few guys but I want to keep things as normal and stable as possible,” he said.

Gano’s selection leaves Bonita and Bloomington as schools with a vacancies, although Bonita is expected to announce a coach later this week.

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