Ganesha Looking for Coach to End 48-Game Football Loss Streak
Jim Sturgeon is out as football coach at Ganesha High School in Pomona, according to first-year athletic director Jesse Altamirano.
Altamirano said Sturgeon, 66, turned in his resignation on Dec. 9, a few weeks after his third consecutive 0-10 season with the Giants.
Ganesha hasn't won on the field since the opening game of the 2003 season -- 48 games ago.
Ganesha last season broke the state record for longest football losing streak. The record previously was held by Moorpark, which lost 46 straight three decades ago..
I spent several hours talkling to Sturgeon and some of his players after the last practice of the 2007 season, and Sturgeon seemed a bit beaten down. And this is a guy whose nickname was/is "Blue Skies" -- because of his relentless optimism.
Sturgeon said he didn't know about Ganesha setting the state record for consecutive defeats, and the knowledge certainly didn't buoy his spirits.
"I'm a big part of that," he said almost to himself. "Maybe I should be gone."
Altamirano said Ganesha is looking for candidates both inside and outside the Pomona School District. He indicated he has been contacted by "several" interested coaches.
He said the closing date for applicants is Feb. 15.
Ganesha's problems are deep and wide, as I wrote in this column from last November. In short, it's a school with zero feeder system (middle school or junior football), modest, enrollment, a high dropout rate and limited administrative interest, in recent years, in producing a competitive football program.
Sturgeon is a good man, and he tried hard ... but the problems were too daunting.
Comments
You keep writing about 46 straight loses in football. I could be wrong but in the late 1970's and early 1980's SBHS lost over 100 straight games. Am I wrong?
Posted by: Local Sports Fan | January 31, 2008 10:09 PM
It's sad to see that the Commitment to Athletics by the Pomona Unified School District is sub par. Well, they do take care of the crown jewel, "Diamond Ranch." With the exception of Diamond Ranch, No Pomona school reached 4 wins for the 2007 football season. Ganesha 0-10, Garey 3-7, Pomona 3-7. It's been like that for years. Whats going on with the Pomona schools?
Posted by: Eagle | February 1, 2008 9:44 AM
San Bernardino High School had a 41-game winless streak from late 1977 (I believe it was) through 1981.
San Bernardino had a tie vs. San Gorgonio somewhere during that period ... I'm gonna guess and say it was maybe 30 games into the streak. The game was 12-12 or 14-14.
So, no, SBHS did not lose 48 consecutive. Or even 41.
Ganesha is out there all by itself. PaulO
Posted by: Paul Oberjuerge | February 1, 2008 1:24 PM