FOOTBALL: Breaking News - Gallagher, DiFiori headed to Bishop Amat
La Salle High School head coach Ealar Gallagher and assistant coach Mike DiFiori have accepted assistant coaching positions at Bishop Amat.
Gallagher, who guided the Lancers to the CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division championship game in 2006, will be Bishop Amat's offensive line coach, while DiFiori, Amat's former head coach, will serve as the linebackers coach.
Question: Who would be a prime candidate for the La Salle head coaching position?
Left: Former La Salle head football coach Ealar Gallagher
By Scott Galetti, Staff Writer
For a pair of area football coaches, the opportunity to get back to their roots knocked too loudly.
La Salle High School head coach Ealar Gallagher and assistant coach Mike DiFiori are both leaving the school to take assistant coaching positions at Bishop Amat.
Gallagher will take over as offensive line coach, while DiFiori will be in charge of the linebackers.
An assistant for his first seven seasons, Gallagher departs after leading La Salle to a 31-28 record in five seasons as the Lancer head coach.
He guided La Salle to an appearance in the 2006 CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division championship game. His team posted a 6-6 mark in 2007, losing to eventual champion Santa Clara in the quarterfinals.
“I talked to the Amat people a couple of weeks ago and it was a tough decision,” Gallagher said. “There’s a lot of good people and good kids at La Salle and I have a lot of friendships here. But professionally, this is the best move for me and my family.”
The La Salle coach had his mind made up, but wasn’t able to meet with school officials until Tuesday, the first day back following the spring break.
“We’ve been talking about it for a while, but I didn’t tell (Principal Pat Bonacci) about it until (Tuesday) morning,” said Gallagher, who played at Bishop Amat.
Gallagher and vice principal/athletic director John Matheus addressed the team later in the day.
“Ealar’s had some success here and has built up the program quite well, and we’re sorry to see him go,” Matheus said. “We’re grateful for his time here.”
Bishop Amat’s new head coach Steve Hagerty had a lot to do with Gallagher’s decision.
“I played for Coach Hagerty and I’ve always had a lot of respect for what he’s done,” Gallagher said. “When he called, it seemed like a great opportunity.
“I’m an alumnus from Bishop Amat, and there’s a lot of people there that I have a lot of respect for.”
At the same time, Gallagher leaves La Salle with a heavy heart.
“There are a lot of good people here and things are going to be in good hands,” Gallagher said. “They’re going to do very well whether I’m here or not.”
In Gallagher, Hagerty is elated to get a quality young coach.
“Any time a head coach can get another head coach on his staff, it’s a blessing,” Hagerty said. “Ealar’s done a nice job at La Salle, but he loves Bishop Amat High School.”
DiFiori leaves La Salle after two seasons as an assistant coach.
He returns to the school where he served as head coach from 1999 to 2005, compiling a 41-36 record.
“I spent a lot of time there and Steve’s a great guy, and I think he can do a lot of good things there, and I’ll be a part of it,” DiFiori said.
One of the things that made DiFiori’s decision easier was having his family around to help out with his children.
“One of the things is that my parents moved to Los Angeles from Northern California, so now I have family that can take care of the kids, which is why I left,” DiFiori said.
Amat’s former head coach also has strong ties to Hagerty which led to his decision.
“When I got the job at Amat in 1992, he was still there and we did coaching outings and clinics together,” DiFiori said.
Added Hagerty: “Mike and I crossed paths. We’ve never really coached together, but we’ve done a lot of football stuff together.”
Besides coaching credentials, Gallagher and DiFiori bring an extra intangible to Amat.
“I think Mike and Ealar are good men, and that comes before being good coaches,” Hagerty said.
Matheus is now in search of a good head coach and assistant at La Salle; a search he expects to be a quick, but thorough process.
“We’re going to open up the selection process and we’ll have a selecting committee to review and start the interview process as soon as possible,” Matheus said. “There are various teaching openings, so maybe that person can be an on-campus coach as well.
“We’re looking for somebody who is program-oriented.”
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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. |
NY -
It was Goldenarm's comment is was expanding on (sorry).
goteamgo, NY
The "not doomsday" was mine. I just don't see the program rocked and sunk.
And yes, I was at the JV game, it was a tough loss, and we had two kids go down with serious injuries that game. I stick with my opinion that La Salle with not crumble, only stumble. The fact a frosh team had just been fielded I believe will be a positive in the scheme. Add this to the other points made by goteamgo...and add a pinch of optimism the admin gives a crap about the program - and the future is not that bleak for La Salle.
That is, except for the Camino Real/Mid-Valley deal..that is another story.
Goteamgo,
I wish I could take credit for saying that it's not doomsday, but I certainly agree with you. The cupboard seems pretty well stocked with a veteran QB and strong JV team returning. Not for nothing, but 5+ losses the past few seasons is not a tradition I would want too deeply engrained.
Unless I misread something, I really thought that Oaks Christian was finally going to play with the upper divisions, but maybe I missed that one. So I highly doubt the coach left because of the more competitive division. Remember, the heavyweights from up north (Lompoc, Paso Robles, Atascadero) play in the Pac-7, no longer in the Los Padres.
Overall, I wish area teams would not complain as much about the competition and just make a commitment to getting better, within reason. Beating Oaks Christian in lower divison football or Bishop Amat in lower division baseball is a lot different than matching up with other public schools with the same enrollment numbers.
quit bickering about which a better school. both are fine high schools but are very different.
After a few days to reflect, we are really only talking about two people leaving for a new job; DiFiori was only at La Salle for two years anyway. The players are still there; the JV team went 8-2 last year (defeating RHL champ TC - sorry Goldenarm!) so there is ceratinly talent still there in the pipeline.
The head coach sets the tone at the top, and the tone of the program. As I noted before, I think it is critical that there is continuity, hopefully in the form of Coaches Peterson, Desmond, and Alexander. They (along with some of the other assistants I neglected to name) have the players respect, and understand the faith, family, school, football order of priorities.
Also regarding the QB situation; we are talking about a 16 year old kid, who is a good kid with good family. He will be fine at La Salle - he already has been noticed there. The offense at La Salle has been adjusted for his talents, and next year he may have more of a running game to take some pressure off always having to throw. Leaving for another school means breaking friendships at the old school, having to prove yourself all over again, trying to gain the respect of new teammates, and possibly disrupt the chemistry on a new team - imagine thinking player "A" will be your QB, and then bumping him for a new guy? Also, the junior year is when SAT's cause a little more stress. Sometimes what you know is better than what you don't know.
As New York said, this is not doomsday for La Salle, but some adjustments, repositioning, and tweaking are in order.
as a former player and future alumni i see only one option for the head coaching position. ANTOINE PETERSON. coach peterson has been involved with the la salle athletics for years, is a teacher, a current parent, and a la salle icon. he will for sure continue a tradition of faith, family, school, and football while bringing his own hardnose hit happy attitude. peterson also has the connections and resources to provide rettig with solid coaching, direction, and guildance.
to quote ls alum...
ITS JUST TIME FOR THE PETERSON ERA
Anon 8:26pm (April 2)
First of all, if “Rettig” is any good he could go to any school and get his ball on! Why should he go to Arcadia? When he could stay at La Salle or go to PHS, Muir or St. Francis. I see the Arcadia fans reaching, because there are lots of whippings awaiting the “Apaches” this season! He could go to anyone of the above schools and get the same or better offers! If the kid is putting in the work academically and is good athletically, he will be rewarded! Point blank!
Anon 3:06,
Are you kidding me? Crime at Arcadia? What a poor, poor argument.
You can't research from 1952 to 1972 on Arcadia football players. Unless you want to do the extensive research time it takes to come up with that, you can't really ask that kind of question.
What's wrong with taking a proactive approach to recruiting? Wouldn't the chances that Rettig get a scholarship slightly higher than staying at La Salle? Don't get me wrong, he may still make it, but I would think that playing alongside the #9 MLB in the nation would help him get more looks.
Arcadia is one of the highest high schools in the state putting kids into the UC and CAL STATE system, based on ratio of student % of going to college to overall students so don't give me that.
Grow up.
Anon 3:03, 3:16. Feel free to cut and paste your last two posts. The posts are fine and I'll leave them up for a short bit. Please use one E-mail address and, since I see you've used a bunch of names, pick one and stick with it. Posts from bogus or multi sources will be dumped.
If I'm at La Salle, I go after Steve Garrison. I know Steve stepped away from Monrovia for family reasons, but this is the type of job that might entice him.
95% of posters seem to be stating this as some great doomsday for La Salle. The mindset needs to switch over to the opportunity that is coming close at hand..and that is spring football and preparation for the upcoming season. The quality and commitment of the La Salle administration - and how they address the coaching vacancies is going to come clear quickly.
I would expect the La Salle football program to take the hit, call time out if necessary, then get their kids up and ready to play.
Bring back Coach Stueck and the single-wing offense.
Lopez!!!Thats a joke right, Someone tell that guy how to read talent...Come on we want the program to grow not crumble!!!
Well let me shoot down these Arcadia posts real quick...1. Arcadia more students=more Ivy Leaguers(Wow hard to figure out, if your population is more you might have more of a certain thing, like students attending a certain type of school)2. La Salle has been a program for about 20 years, so yes not too many D1 players, but let me know how many Arcadia had in their first 20 years.3. If you know anything about recruiting Golper's supposed "recruiters" are not the be all and end all of Rettig's career, if the kid has what it takes, then he has what it takes. I would like to end this with an Arcadia fans last post, found a few below, "Rettig will do himself a deserve if he doesn't attend arcadia because of all of the attention he'll get because of golper." I think he meant disservice, or something like that not too sure though, wow that was a lot of the word because. Also how many crimes have been committed at Arcadia in the last year...Look it up unbelievable...This is too Easy THANK YOU for trying!!!
the more i hear about this whole situation the more i begin to wonder WHERE IS THE LA SALLE ADMINISTRATION??? la salle has clearly struggled to place athletes in higher level institutions, not to mention build a tradition in recent years and these factors cannot be blamed on coaching, parent support, or lack of talent. so whats the deal? clearly there is a factor within la salle that has limited the football program. a factor that has failed to create an environment that two coaches would want to remain at. this factor must be the la salle administration.
dont get me wrong, i am not letting either coach off the hook but other issues must come into play in decisions like these.
The great john escandon that is a joke right april fools he was at La salle at the JV Level and forced out. I believe that they should give peterson the job or bring in one of the old guys like stuek of lopez to stabalize the program while they move into a new era.
Is this an encore call for the great John Escandone? Somebody please stop by the buc and find out if he is interested in the position
Rettig will do himself a deserve if he doesn't attend arcadia because of all of the attention he'll get because of golper.
Rettig will figure out where he wants to go. But the person who said La Salle is comparable to Arcadia academically is really ignorant. La Salle has never put the number of kids into the Ivy Leagues as has Arcadia. Arcadia has 87 AP Exams passed per 100 students. The ONLY schools that can compare to that locally are San Marino and maybe La Canada, Obviously, neither of those schools compare to Arcadia athletically,certainly not in football. And the reality is that even though Golper committed early and is"off the market" , he will have a slew of colleges watching his games in the fall to stay in contact with him in the hope that he will decide to take all five visits and possibly see something else. He will also have reps from the ESPN Under Armour and Army AA games watching to see if they want to invite him to their Jan.09 national games. Clearly Golper will draw enough attention to Arcadia that it will automatically spill over to his teammates. People who think otherwise are either ignorant or so jealous they can't admit it.
La Salle Fans,
I don't see how Golper proved you could be found. Arcadia has put out over 20 Div 1, 1-AA, Div 2 athletes over the last 20 years. That is no small feat.
what is la salle hiding?!!??!?!?!
HAHAHHAHAHAH!!!!
Hate to break it to you Arcadia guy, but the API score (Academic Performance Index) was only taken on Public schools. This would not account for La Salle. May want to look it up before you try to make a point.
rettig is a good player, no matter where he goes he will get noticed. Even if he goes to La Salle he will get the same looks as if he went to Arcadia.
Rettig is a good player there is no doubt that no matter where he goes he will get noticed. Even if he is at a small school like la salle he will still get noticed.
Private schools do not have API scores. API are public school rankings.
Anon 5:26,
La Salle light years ahead of Arcadia? Are you kidding me? You are so ignorant its sad.
Football wise:
Arcadia finished the season with a 10.8 rating on calpreps and was as high as 19 (?) during the season I believe.
La Salle has a calpreps rating of -2.1. That explains everything.
Academically:
Arcadia - 859 API score
Average SAT score 1189.0
(out of 1600)
La Salle - ??? i couldn't find any info on la salle.
I personally doubt that La Salle is better than Arcadia. 10,000 dollars a year does not always buy your kid success.
Arcadia > La Salle in both academics (I can't find any on La Salle so my assumption is they don't post it because it's a private school) and football.
Get your head out of your arse.
la salle supporter
post la salle and arcadia's api score please.
By writing Arcadia is a step down what I meant is as a school they are a step down. Academically La Salle is light years ahead of Arcadia. Really their football program is not all that respectable. Golper proved that coaches will find you wherever you are. Chase will be fine at La Salle. Arcadia is better then La Salle (most likely, let them play) but I mean really is Arcadia well known nationally, not so much. I dont have ties to either school but I would tell my kid to go to La Salle.
I think Dawg is right. Returning to help restore your alma mater to greatness is very compelling.
I dont think Coach Gallagher left La Salle because of the League/Mid-valley change to a tougher bracket. I strongly feel that coach decided to return to his roots (Amat) as a sign of honor, code, and beliefs for his ALma Mater. Life is full of choices and his decision must be respected for the best interest of his family and self. Coach Gallagher has many years ahead to give SGV schools headaches for a long time.
Good luck coach.
DAWWGER
To say that Lasalle is a step up on arcadia football wise is a joke. Rettig should think about SF the Golden Knights have gotten alot of good players from the Sierra Madre area. Talk about a great combination for the next two years Rettig to Riley. I can only dream though
Arcadia would be a good fit for Rettig, Not only because of Golper, but because they are returning three stud senior receivers in Brain Rambeau, Jay Ma, and Lazar Williams. In terms of football, La Salle is a step down from Arcadia. Sorry to burst your bubble but La Salle can’t compete.
Rettig is a Sierra Madre kid. His family has a long tradition at La Salle with his dad, uncles and older brother all having gone to school there. He has been doing extremely well at camps over the last couple years. Coming from a proud family it does not look like he will be leaving.If he did leave it would probably be out of the area to a school with strong football and academics?
Seeing Fred's explanation, it makes some sense. I felt moving La Salle from the Mid-Valley division was a mistake. It might have been the thing that put Ealar over the edge to take the Amat position. Local rivalries are destroyed, and La Salle will have more than a challenge going against Oaks Christian and Santa Clara in the playoffs in the new division. The CIF is making a BIG mistake moving the Camino Real league from the Mid-Valley.
Hey Miketev you dont know crap, Rettig doesnt need Arcadia to be seen, not too mention why go from La Salle to Arcadia, definite drop. The kid is already being looked at by colleges as a sophmore, the colleges will be there if he keeps playing ball.
Is Rettig an Arcadia kid? If he wants recruiters around - that'd be a good option with Golper generating buzz.
At first I was surprised, then after thinking about it, not so surprised that Gallagher would leave a head coaching position two years after reaching the CIF finals for an assistant job. Think about it, La Salle is moving to a much tougher division and will not play area teams in the playoffs, which is what made the 2006 playoff run so special when they beat Monrovia in the quarterfinals. They will not win as often or play area teams often enough to attract local kids to La Salle, which is probably what Gallagher was looking at. If Gallagher was to start losing now, his stock would slowly fall. By going to Amat, he can say he built La Salle back up, and if Amat becomes great again, he can say he was part of the rebuilding process at one of the SGV's most storied programs. Wouldn't that look good on a resume when he starts looking for a head coacing job again?
As usual Goldenarm provides good comments about the La Salle program.
My personal opinion is that AD John Matheus and the search committee will come up with a worthy successor.
That said, there are many challenges in the coming years. I did not realize that La Salle was moved out of the Mid Valley Division until Camino Real Fan pointed it out.
The Lancers are now in the playoffs with the Del Rey league, Tri Valley, and teams from Torrance.
The freshman team was formed only last year.
As I have pointed out, I liked the Mid Valley arrangement. It produced many good local games on Friday nights, and rematches in the playoffs.
May you live in interesting times :)
YOU CAN BET RETTIG AND ST FRANCIS WILL BE IN CONTACT SOON...
HOW BIG OF A BLOW WOULD IT BE IF CHASE LEFT TO AMAT AS WELL?
Both guys were at Amat when it was a winning program, and they both want to try to bring it back to where it was. They're basically going home to work for someone who they have a lot of respect for in Hagerty. I don't believe it's a reflection on La Salle at all.
i still dont understand this? after buildin a program that is not complete yet over the years why would two important coaches leave the program??? its true that you cant compare amat to la salle but amat has been in a steady decline over the last couple of years as the lancers in pasadena have been makin a name for themselves. why wouldnt they see out their star quarterback until he graduates. it seems that la salle has a knack for not helping out its players get in to the next level. how many la salle football alum are playin at the next level? 2 i can think of. and especially after the last three seasons of talent. Chase will be fine no matter what happens and he is a good kid and probably wont leave his team and friends but i still dont think its right for gallagher and difiori to leave him. i guess its just time for the PETERSON ERA at LaSalle!?!?!
how much does amat pay its coaches? anybody know?
what about la salle?
FB coaches really shouldn't have beards, anyway
I think that Coach Peterson (D-coordinator) and Coach Desmond (O-line coach)and Coach Alexander (D-line coach) at La Salle need to step up and provide assurances and continuity to the program. The program has made strides the last few years. I think it would be a mistake for La Salle to bring in a coach from the outside who wants to assemble a new staff, and "clean house."
One of the things we admired at La Salle is the "faith, family, academics, football" sense of priority, in that order. A new coach from the outside will need to understand and buy into that part of the program.
Also, maybe this will now convince the CIF to drop their stupid plan to move the Camino Real league up a division to face the likes of Oaks Christian and Santa Clara.
Coaches leave, move or quit just like any other working person might. Sometimes the employer HATES to lose them, may attempt counter-offers or sweetening the pot..in most cases the move happens regardless.
I met some good people from La Salle last season, and I know how this feels...since I was greatly anticipating my son playing for Mike Mooney at TC.
All I can say is the feeling sticks with you. The best you can do is stay involved, adapt and support the program and kids regardless of what transpires between leadership changes.
BRING BACK LOPEZ OR STUECK THEY DID A GREAT JOB STARTING FOOBALL AT LA SALLE.
How can La Salle allow these two great coaches leave without a fight? Maybe, sports aren't that important at La Salle after all?
Rettig should leave so he does not get hurt.
You know what they used to do to traitors in the old days?
I hope BAD karma being sent to bishop amat, makes them lose EVERY GAME
i hope the bad karma to bishop amat makes them lose every game.
chase is being coached by Steve Clarkson he is definitely fine.
This Buddy guy brings up great points. It is very hard to believe that they are walking away from such an up and coming program. La Salle could have never dreamed of beating the likes of temple city and monrovia five years ago. Now they compete with both teams and beat them regularly. It is hard to talk negatively toward these two coaches because they are great people and have done so much for La Salle. I just dont understand becoming assistant coaches at amat (a faultering program), I know they are rich in football heritage, but it seemed as though they have or I should say had something great at La Salle. The real crime is La Salles move up in divisions, reminds me a lot of five years ago. Whoever picked the divisions is a moron for taking La Salle away from their local opponents. This entire situation just blows my mind!!!
chase has bigger balls than leave his team weeks before spring practice and without a quarterback
Coach Peterson should be the next head coach. His aggressive coaching style will be an improvement to the program. Rettig should leave, he has too much talent to be at small school. Monrovia might actually be able to beat La Salle, or they might just choke again!
while la salle has by no means earned itself a football tradition it has stepped up in recent years and is making a name for itself in small ways. the last four years and i would imagine next four have been and will be a crucial time for la salle football to make a legitimate name for itself. saying that, gallagher and difiori left at a crucial time in the development of the lancer program. they are abandoning the players, parents, alumni, la salle staff, and coaches.
Rettig would leave because La Salle lost much of its talent. Rettig is the only thing even close to going to play college ball. La Salle is in one of the worst leagues in California and if he wants to play college football, coaches will look upon that. Unless he does awesome at combines, camps, etc. he will not be regarded as highly as someone who puts up the same stats at an Orange Lutheran or Servite.
A player of Rettig's calibur doesn't have to go to another school, he will be fine at La Salle.
Why would Rettig leave LS?
rettig is for sure leaving la salle
Yea I have heard that coach eddie alexander is something special. Serious competition for the position.
No Stueck?
coach eddie alexander, known for his excellence of commitment and hardwork, will likely be the #1 candidate.
Formidable is a good description NY. Who doesn't want to work for a good company, surrounded by co-workers who are highly skilled and already have notches of unquestioned success on their belts? The Amat faithful have got to be stoked.
I wish the La Salle folks, parents and kids alike, best of luck in finding the right head coach and crew to keep their program a strong one. Anyone got a guess on candidate #1??
DiFiori has a long coaching history at Amat already. It looks like the new coach at Amat has been able to assemble a formidable staff.
I wonder if blue chip transfers will follow.
Bishop Amat and Lasalle no comparison.
Judging from what I've been told, the commitment is a big one by La Salle. These coaches left for the chance to go back to Amat, no other reason.
This is amazing. Good for Amat.
I wonder how the coaching vacancy at La Salle will affect Monrovia's search for a coach, if at all. I wonder if there will be any overlap with the candidates.
Will Coach Stueck come back to La Salle? What type of commitment to football is La Salle willing to make? A private school in Pasadena with the right commitment could build a strong program.
This is not an April Fools joke fellas
Not April Fools. Sorry.
Nice try, Scott
april fools?