Shocker: Temple City High school football coach Mike Mooney has resigned to become an Assistant Principal at San Marino High School
Mike Mooney began coaching at Temple City in 1999 and compiled a 61-30-2 record in eight seasons, which included four Rio Hondo League titles, and a 33-6-1 record against RHL foes. Mooney’s win total ranks second all-time in Temple City history behind Bob Hitchcock's 196 accumulated wins from 1960 through 1981.
Mike Mooney on his coaching future and move to San Marino
"My coaching days are done for the foreseeable future but a window has been left open should I miss the game too much. I have been hired as an administrator, and been told that I can do as much coaching as I wish. This was not an option for me at Temple City had I opted to advance my administrative career there.
“This was a most intriguing selling point as I weighed the decision. I am currently undecided about my coaching future. At this point, my focus is on making a solid and professional transition into a new school and administrative setting. It is comforting to know that San Marino would be completely supportive."
Question: Who will be Temple City's next coach? And how long before Mooney gets the itch to coach again?
For the complete story on Mooney's resignation, click thread.
Known for his football genius and a true ambassador for high school football in the West San Gabriel, it came as a shock on Thursday when Temple City High School football coach Mike Mooney announced that he is resigning to become an assistant principal at San Marino High School.
Mooney, a hall of fame high school football player who graduated at Temple City in 1988 and played college football at USC, began his teaching career at San Marino in 1994, where he was an assistant under legendary coach Bill Maloney before becoming the Titans’ head coach in 1997.
Mooney left San Marino to become the head coach at his alma mater in 1999, where he has remained the past eight years before Thursday’s announcement.
Mooney has no intentions of resuming his coaching career at San Marino, though there is an option to join coach D.R. Moreland’s staff if he chooses.
“My coaching days are done for the foreseeable future but a window has been left open should I miss the game too much,” Mooney said. “I have been hired as an administrator, and been told that I can do as much coaching as I wish. This was not an option for me at Temple City had I opted to advance my administrative career there.
“This was a most intriguing selling point as I weighed the decision. I am currently undecided about my coaching future. At this point, my focus is on making a solid and professional transition into a new school and administrative setting. It is comforting to know that San Marino would be completely supportive.”
Temple City was 61-30-2 under Mooney, which included four Rio Hondo League titles, and a 33-6-1 record against RHL foes. Mooney’s win total ranks second all-time in Temple City history behind Bob Hitchcock’s 196 accumulated wins from 1960 through 1981. Mooney, who is also a dean of students at Temple City, will continue coaching spring football until an interim or full-time coach is named. He will continue in his current capacity until July 1.
Obviously, explaining his decision to his players and staff was difficult, but with his wife Melissa and two children, he felt it was the right time to make the move.
“I think everybody was a little shocked and stunned at the initial announcement,” Mooney said. “It was a really hard decision, but on the other hand I figured it was a move I would make at some point. When you have a family and kids, those are huge considerations you have to weigh.”
Mooney said he leaves Temple City with a lot of memories, and said he will miss it more when football starts next fall.
“You can’t replace that feeling of coaching, especially coaching at a special place like Temple City, where I have so many great memories as a player too,” Mooney said. “I will miss the bonds developed with the kids and especially our coaches. When you pour your heart into something year in and year out, it’s a rewarding experience.”One of Mooney’s biggest rivals, Monrovia High School coach Steve Garrison, said the Rio Hondo League and West San Gabriel Valley is losing a great coach.
“Mike is a man that got the most out of his kids,” Garrison said. “But more importantly, he was a real class individual who always ran his program with a lot of integrity.”
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
As someone very close to the TC program it was disheartening to hear that Mooney was leavng. The good thing though is he left this program with great stability. TC will be back in the mix this year no matter what. Don't be suprised to see either Marty Dattola who was the JV coach who in 6 years i beleive only lost 4 games, and won 5 RHL titles. Or DC Randy Backus who basically runs the program year round and who deserves much of the credit for what it is now. If it were up to me i would hire Backus and have Dattola as the OC. The best of both worlds..
I like Mooney a lot and respect him on and off the field. I hope he returns to coaching football soon. Coaches like Mooney are great for the game.
Stat geek correction: I don't think Inglewood ever won CIF, and they made only one Finals appearance which was their 44-40 loss to Paso Robles in 2000. Paso Robles won three consecutive (98,99,00), then Santa Monica beat North Torrance in the 2001 Finals. Then Lompoc went on their run before Crespi took over. One thing is for sure, Division 10 had some sand-bagging ringers in it for several years. Monrovia-TC CIF Divisional Champs going back to 1997:
1997 -Mira Costa(Monrovia)
1998 -Paso Robles(Monrovia)
1999 -Paso Robles(Monrovia)
2000-Paso Robles(Inglewood)
2001 - Santa Monica (N. Torrance)
2002 - Lompoc (Serra)
2003 - Lompoc
2004 - Crespi
2005 - Crespi(Lompoc)
2006 - Verbum Dei(La Salle)
2007 - Monrovia(ANYBODY)
Eberhart - the former CV coach who won 5 league title with not the strongest talent would be great at TC.
It woild be nice to see him coaching without the nut job parents (perhaps the worst in the SGV and that is saying something) and administration. If he can win 5 titles with that group imagine what he can do at TC.
Mooney's RHL record is off by one. Here's a list of TC's record versus the RHL in his 8 seasons at the helm:
Monrovia 4-3-1
La Canada 6-2
San Marino 8-0
Blair 8-0
South Pas 8-0
Grand Total 34-5-1
4 Titles in the past 6 years
13 game RHL win streak (woulda likely been 17-0 heading into week 5 showdown with M-Town coming to TC this year...what might've been!)
Regarding the CIF jinx...
5-8 record. Look at the opponents and where they ended up...
99 - Santa Ynez - CIF Semis
00 - Inglewood - CIF Champs
01 - Inglewood - CIF Finals
02 - Serra - CIF Finals
03 - St Bernards - CIF Qtrs
04 - Crespi - CIF Champs
05 - Lompoc - CIF Finals
06 - Verbum Dei - CIF Champs
Of the 8 losses, 3 went to the Finals and 3 others won the Championship. Only the 99 loss to Santa Ynez and the 03 loss to St. Bernards (minus Rocky Hinds) would be considered failures.
As a local fan of TC football for more than 30 years, I've seen some of the greatest games, teams and certainly coaches in the area. Mooney stacks up with all the greats. Given the reduced talent pool and multiple activities kids can choose from today, Mooney's run at TC has been remarkable. TC boys will keep on playing but we've been extremely fortunate to call him our coach.
From one sad old timer to a bright young coach, I wish you well.
P.S. Any RHL stat geeks, bloggers, oldtimers like me see it differently?
Mooney has been an Administrator and Head Football Coach for the past 7 years. He is the Dean of Activities at TCHS. He will have similar duties at SM. Clearly he can handle both gigs.
Too bad TC wouldn't give him a shot to prove he could still get both jobs done once they replaced "Dean" with "Assistant Pricncipal"
Our huge loss is their gain.
Don't know if he will get involved in coaching, don't know if it would matter in terms of making them competitive in football.
I will say this, as someone who has watched him closely for the past 9 years, I would not bet against him if he turns his attention to getting the most out of those folks at SM and makes them a real force in the RHL again.
True TC has a bigger pool to draw from, but a lot of the fish look just the same at TC and you all know what he's done to superior talent year in and year out.
I wish you well coach and we'll miss you.
Mike's Dad Dan was a great all around administrator as well as the founding principal of Gabrielino. Im sure Mike will make a great administrator as well.
Todd
Scott,
Many successful coaches possess many critical leadership skills. It makes perfect sense that these people should be allowed to occupy administrative positions. It does not surprise me that San Marino has made it possible.
New York,
San Marino is an exception when it comes to administrators coaching. At many schools, administrators would not have the time or flexibility in their schedules to be a coach as well. In my (limited) experience, Glendora High is the only other place I've heard of a principal or a.p. coaching. Does anyone know of other places it happens?
Hey RigelBy
I never insinuated that SM can afford to pay teachers and administrators more than any other district can, nor did I suggest that Mooney is chasing money. Although, if he were I don’t see anything wrong with a guy wanting to earn more dough anyway.
I did, however, imply that the SM school district put together a better deal and have therefore attracted a talented coach and teacher in Mooney. The flexibility (allowing administrators to coach--the article said that was not an option at TC) and the insight of knowing the value Mooney will bring has set the SM district apart in its ability to attract Mooney.
Flexibility and insight are characteristics of many successful business people and dealmakers that I know. I then attempted to make a pun on the housing prices in SM, suggesting that flexible and insightful people (business people) can afford to live there.
he is trash and a girl for that he should have went for the 3 years in a row rhl champs. but good luck
The only person I know of running lifting/running programs with their high school teams beside Coach Dimalante at Arcadia is Coach Mooney. Good for him.
As an ex-temple city football player i know temple city will be losing one of the greatest coaches of all time. even if he was a prick sometimes he comanded respect and always got it. his teams were taught the idea that no one individual can win the game only the team can. what has made temple city so great over these years is the hard work put it by the whole program. who else in the Rio Hondo league is up at 5:30am running and lifting during the summer? Monrovia?hahahaha NO!!!! lets face it TC might have a hard time but they will pull together and leave no doubt that Temple City is the best team around Mooney or NO Mooney
New York, I don't see why being able to afford living in San Marino has anything to do with Mooney going there to be assistant vice principal. In case you didn't know, the only reason he got the job was because the former vice principal is stepping down, and the reason he's stepping down is because he was offered a better job at a different school with a better pay. My mother once taught at San Marino and it's safe for me to say that the pay isn't as great as other schools. She taught at Gab for one year after leaving San Marino and told me that the pay is significantly higher. It wasn't SM's money, it was Mooney's decision.
as someone who played under Coach Mooney and Coach Dattola, there would only be a different style of coaching brought to Temple City. Coach Dattola brings the same intensity to practice and the fact that he played during the glory days adds to his resume. I hope he applies for a coaching position at TC. It would keep the tradition alive, in a sense. Also, don't forget abotu Coach Backus. I am unsure about whether or not he desires to be more than the DC after having a in December, but I am sure that as his 50th birthday approaches, nothing would make him more proud than to try and add to the legacy of the TC teams of the post 2000 era
I think Coach Swanson would be a perfect fit. Maybe bring some of his hardnose football to a team that is mostly known for offense
There is no majic in getting a TC alum - get the best coach available.
OK fine, here's another name - Coach Swanson the DC at Gabrielino.
I agree Aram, TC needs to bring in an alum and I can’t think of a better person than Marty Ditola the JV head coach from 2000-2004 and who was on the last CIF championship team at TC coached by the greatest HC Temple City has ever know, Coach Hitchcock.
I’m sure many parents who had the privilege of watching their sons play for Marty and have younger ones about to take the next step up to varsity would totally agree that Marty would bring to TC the pride and tradition that he was a part of during the Hitchcock era.
Well done Mike. It was an honor to be an official, parent of players on opposing teams and fan of the dignity and pride your brought to the field. You always worked hard and you were always respectful of the best sport for your men going. You will be missed at Temple City, but doing what is right for your family is a noble transition for a Father with character. You will be missed on the fields and in the development of young men as you and all good coaches prepare them for life's challenges. Good luck and thank you for respecting the profession of being a coach. Your legacy will continue by the next coach as long as he carries your values my friend.
Jim Mulligan
Coach Mooney,
Ask your pops questions - he was the greatest asst. principal ever. You're not supposed to like guys like him when you're a student, but Dan Mooney was the acception. Students loved him. Talk about a real sports savvy administrator.
About the vacancy - I think TC needs to hire a TC alum. They can't bring in an outsider. I don't need to remind any of you of what happened the last two times they did that. But Mooney arrived and righted the ship.
Good Luck Mike!
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to coach at TC (JV) football from 2000-2004. I learned some great coaching ethics from you and the staff.
I know that someday you will return to the field of glory.
Coach David Alonso
Right you are fan, but let's chat on the other thread. This one is for Mooney.
Is there any hope of getting Maloney back at SM as well?
It amazes me that the TC admin. has their collective heads so far up their rear that they lose Mooney b/c they are not as flexible and insightful as SM. Maybe that's why the people in SM can afford to live in SM.
Maybe now that Mooney is climbing the administrative ladder he can push for a league reallignment. Drop SM, SP and Blair into the same division as Maranatha. Of course with Mooney gone, TC may need to get dropped as well.
Freddy,
I'm very impressed with your use of citations...
they may have asked but murphy loves maranatha and we love him right back. no way. at least not this year.
What is the rumor that coach Murphy from Maranatha has been asked to consider the position?
Mooney, Thank you, for all the good times. I remember in 2001 when you took your team deep into CIF (Reed & Wagner leading the way) but lost against a good inglewood squad that had Lawerence Jackson, USC. You took the TC program to new heights and I hope you can pass the torch to someone who will take good care of the program. Everyone from Arcadia land, has nothing but good things to say about you. Your a class act. Especially, when you came on this blog to find out if TC kids actually trashed LaSalle campus. Plus, your great blogs about VD in the CIF final game. Come back on sometime and give your analysis since you are not coaching this year. I hope you enjoy your career at SM.
Congrats Coach Mooney! I hope you enjoy your new life and find time to build new relationships in the SM community and (especially) maintain your old ones while you were at TC. Enjoy the extra time in the Fall to be with your family & friends.
I am certain that ALL the problems at LC are not rooted in the head coach. Certainly you can agree with that. What might be a perceived problem with the head coach might be a problem with one’s understanding of the program. Without a doubt, wins and losses are not always the fault of the coach. Some responsibility can be placed there, but culpability can not rest entirely on the shoulders of one individual. I don't think that LC consistently under performs in football either, unless you think the entire RHL under performed last year. Maybe they weren't that good. You have to acknowledge that possibility. One great player with three other good players does not make a great team. Just as one coach is not solely responsible if a team wins/loses. I said it before and I'll say it again: Teams win football games, not players. For an example: Temple City the last five years. TC had good players and good teams. Monrovia had great players & athletes but didn't develop the team concept like at TC. I would argue the same is true at LC. Team, team, team. Teams win football games. Parents need to share the responsibilities of becoming a support for the team concept. LC has very little POSITIVE community support for its football program. There are lots of people involved in athletics at LCHS; however, I am certain they many of them are not helping or encouraging certain athletic programs. Positive support is necessary if you want to see athletic success.
Don’t blame one individual for your failure. Don’t blame individual players (i.e. QB with the 30 rating or a RB that’s 130lbs.). Don’t blame coaches. The blame game destroys teams. Teams win and teams lose, together. You are hurting the LC football program rather than helping it get to where it is trying to go. These actions are the cancerous actions of super-star individuals. These actions fracture teams, franchises, programs, and communities.
Posted by: Not Jeff S. | May 10, 2007 09:16 PM
Boy do I love the brawn of those IE boys. It truly does remind me of back home. Tough loss for TC that Mooney left. He was a great coach.
Posted by: BigA | May 10, 2007 06:50 PM
BigM,
I take no satisfaction in our 'Cats winning a weaker league, and that is exactly what it will be. If not for Mooney, Monrovia likely would have won at least four more league titles in the past 7 years. DiFiori's TC teams did not beat us. This is very bad news as you mentioned earlier for the already declining quality of football in our league as well as the WSGV.
I assume Aram will take back his TC CIF prediction below.
Gee, if Mooney had made this decision a year earlier, the 'Cats would have had at least a 10 win season this past year.
Posted by: New York | May 10, 2007 06:09 PM
So much for my hopes of him coaching at SF.
What a loss!
This means Monrovia will dominate the Rio for years to come. It sucks for Monrovia as they will lose the toughness to complete in CIF.