Ryan Maddox, an assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at West Covina High School the past three years, has been selected as new head football coach at Monrovia.

Left: New Monrovia head football coach Ryan Maddox.

Question: What are your thoughts on this hire?

By Scott Galetti, Staff Writer
MONROVIA – The long and tedious journey finally is over at Monrovia High School.
Nearly seven weeks after Steve Garrison stepped down as head football coach after 15 seasons, the school has a successor.
Ryan Maddox emerged from the field of hopefuls to become the Wildcats’ new coach.
“I think he’s a wonderful candidate and Monrovia is happy to have him,” Monrovia athletic director Dave Moore said.
“Monrovia is fortunate to have a coach who has been so thoroughly prepared with a broad range of experiences at one school. I think he’ll bring energy and enthusiasm to our program.”
With a talent pool in excess of 25 candidates, Maddox was selected over finalists Fil Lujan and Northview coach Jim Arellanes.
“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Maddox said. “I think that’s a special place.”
Maddox, 36, comes to Monrovia after spending the last nine years at West Covina.
He served as JV coach in 1999 and spent two seasons as an assistant who helped with defensive backs and wide receivers.
The South Hills graduate was the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator in the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons.
Maddox took over as assistant head football coach/defensive coordinator in 2004 and served in that role for the past four seasons.
West Covina won the CIF-Southern Section Division VII title in 2004, his first season as defensive coordinator.
His familiarity with Monrovia is what attracted him to the Wildcats’ position.
“We’ve played them in the past, and Steve Garrison has done a fine job of building a winning program,” Maddox said. “I know they have a good tradition and they have amazing community and parent involvement.”
Maddox will have many challenges to tackle as the season approaches.
The biggest hurdle, perhaps, will be to find replacements for the handful of players who transferred from the school citing safety concerns in the city. They included Josiah Thropay to Bishop Amat, Dwight Smith and Brandon Golden.
“I see my role to help these young men become successful, both on and off the field,” Maddox said. “The foundation is built on character and the culture of the program. Having community and parent support, kids will want to come to your school and play football.”
The Wildcats’ new coach plans to get involved with the community by holding youth camps and reaching out to area elementary schools.
Maddox is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton and holds a Master of Education from Azusa Pacific University.
He is a social science teacher and will finish out the school year at West Covina before teaching in the same capacity at Monrovia in the fall.
Monrovia was 6-6 in 2007 and tied for first place with Blair in the Rio Hondo League.
Garrison stepped down on March 10 for family reasons. He compiled a 111-56-6 record.