Pomona hires Rice to be head football coach
After his name has been linked to the job for weeks, Anthony Rice was hired as the Pomona High School head football coach on Thursday, pending school board approval.
Following two CIF championship seasons in four years at Colony High School, the Pomona native will be the fifth coach in seven seasons for a program that hasn't made the playoffs since winning the Valle Vista League in 2003.
"When people think of Pomona, they shed a negative light on it," Rice said. "But that's not how I think of Pomona because that's where I'm from. These kids are in the same boat I was in when I was growing up and I want to turn this program back into what it used to be."
Unlike when Rice was a record-setting running back at Garey High School, the Pomona Unified School district is saturated with new schools. The dispersed talent is the reason for Pomona football's lack of recent success but the Red Devils have the talent to end their playoff drought, according to Rice.
"I've seen some film of these guys and played them in 7-on-7 so I know they've got the athletes," Rice said. "Pomona's always had athletes. I remember when this school was a powerhouse and that's what I want to get it back to."
Pomona went 6-4 last season and finished a game shy of a playoff berth in John Brown's lone season as head coach. The longtime assistant coach was promoted to head football coach prior to last season but Brown resigned Jan. 8 on the premise that the Pomona administration offered his job to Rice shortly after the end of last season.
Rice and Pomona principal Roger Fasting denied Rice was offered the position, but Rice said Pomona athletic director Tom Sweeney casually discussed Rice becoming the Red Devils' offensive coordinator under Brown.
"That kind of threw a monkey wrench in this whole thing," Rice said. "I understand where J.B. (Brown) is coming from, I know how he feels. But I hope he's looking at this like I'm looking at Colony. I know Colony is in good hands with (Matt) Bechtel so I hope (Brown) knows Pomona is in good hands."
In four seasons at Colony, Rice won CIF-SS Central Division titles in 2006 and 2007, compiled a 39-12 overall record and an 18-2 mark in the Mt. Baldy League. He resigned from the Colony head coaching job on Feb. 2 in large part because he was seeking an administrative position he didn't believe Colony could offer him, one he is hoping Pomona can provide.
4 Comments
Leave a comment
About Clay
Clay Fowler has been covering high school sports for six years in California and Texas. He was born in Dallas, attended the University of Texas and worked in Central Texas before joining the Daily Bulletin staff in 2006.
Email Clay here
Congrats to Rice & company, I know you will do great things at Pomona, because you focus on the kids. You make; better human-beings = better athletes = better team = WINS!!!
Don't forget all your friends @ Colony, you made a big difference here!
Where are all the people saying I was full of it? Big surprise Rice gets the job.
DIRTY
Good Luck Rice, The Valle Vista ain't the weak a** Mt. Baldy. There are championship teams in the VVL. Anyone who thinks its going to be a cake walk doesn't know Pomona and doesn't know that league.
And good luck with the admin. don't think they won't stab Rice in the back just like the last three coaches at Pomona.
WOW, it seems that someone is very upset with this hire. Good luck coach Rice. I have been reading all the past comments on Rice and his staff, and I dont understand why so many people here hate him, and or love to hate him. Rice has done a remarkable job with the kids, and thats what its all about. Winning championships is a plus, but when it comes to the kids of our future, in my opinion he is doing a great job. Keep up the good work coach.
VVL has San dimas. San Dimas has nothing on Chaffey. I know Ganesha is gone but c'mon. VVL had Ganesha the worst team ever. Baldwin Park, Covina and Northview? Don lugo and Garey would work those teams. Wilson and Nogales make the VVl tougher now that Ganesha is out.