CONFIRMED: Wilson coach Brian Zavala resigns after two seasons …

Wilson High School football coach Brian Zavala has resigned after two seasons at the school.

Hacienda-La Puente Unified Asst. Superintendent in charge of Human Resources Rob Roberts confirmed Zavala’s decision on Tuesday night, saying that the second-year coach resigned his varsity head football coach position effective immediately and his teaching position at the end of the school year.

Roberts confirmed that the school district had hired a private investigator to investigate Zavala and the football program, but declined to say why at this time.

Zavala was 4-16 in his two seasons. Sources say he resigned rather than face action from the school as a result of the investigation.

The team is expected to be told about the situation on Thursday afternoon, followed by a meeting for parents that evening.

Aram’s take: Sad to see the situation come to this. I can tell you that reliable sources tell me that Zavala was in trouble for allegedly illegally recruiting a player from La Serna. The wrong people (if you’re Zavala) knew about this and it was the straw that broke the camel’s back as far as the administration was concerned. The writing was obviously on the wall when retired former A.D. and football coach Dave Merrill was brought back to “oversee” the program. I have to believe that if there wasn’t so much anti-Zavala sentiment that this infraction may have warranted a stern talking to and certainly not an ultimatum. But the mob may have had the administration lathered up to do its due diligence, and by the letter of the law, Zavala was left with two pretty crappy choices. More will come out in the coming days, for sure.

Walnut’s Aubrey Coleman not going to Washington, will go JUCO route instead

Here’s the article from Scout.com’s Scott Eklund …

Posted Jan 23, 2011

Walnut (Ca.) DE/TE Aubrey Coleman has decided to enroll at Fort Scott Community College after figuring out he wasn’t going to qualify for a D-1 scholarship…

“I’m all set to head out to Kansas and play at Fort Scott for the next two years,” Coleman told Dawgman.com. “I was getting good grades, but I didn’t have the right classes for my credits to count toward my core GPA so, I talked with coach (Demetrice Martin) and he gave me a number to call.

“I guess there is a former coach from Mount San Antonio, where coach Martin was, and he said I should call him, so I did and he’s out at Fort Scott now.”

Coleman had been committed to Washington since last spring and maintains he wants to return and become a Husky after his two years at Fort Scott are up.

“I’m definitely planning on it, but it’s a ways away,” Coleman said. “I want to be a Husky and I like the staff and the direction of their program. We’ll see if they still want me. My plan is to go there when I’m done.”

Coleman was being recruited by the Huskies as a defensive end prospect, but could have played tight end too, depending on where he was needed most.

This season, the talented athlete posted 64 tackles, 3 sacks and one forced fumble on defense while adding 64 catches for 864 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 41 carries for 192 yards and two touchdowns on offense.

Aram’s take: Tough break. Hopefully, Coleman gets it together in Kansas and fulfills his dream of playing D-1 ball. Just goes to show how important it is to have academics in order.

Blogger “New York” nails it, sources say Dan Loyd interested in San Marino job …

Blogger “New York” commented in a post last week that San Marino should fly to Texas and offer its open varsity head coach job to former Titans standout quarterback Dan Loyd.

Well, according to a source, Loyd is interested in the job. Whether he has applied, I don’t know yet. Loyd was a star quarterback in the mid-1990s and even got a ride to Arizona. After that … I’m not sure what happened to his career (somebody fill me in).

Personally, I just remember Loyd as the kid I always saw riding his bike up and down Huntington Drive on his to play one sport or another.

San Marino is currently looking to fill the position vacated by Mike Mooney, who resigned late in the first semester after being put on administrative leave during the season for reasons the school would not comment about.

Aram’s take: Loyd would certainly be a interesting hire. But if he’s been in Texas for long, he probably doesn’t know just how much his hometown has changed. I need not say more. Also, I get the feeling that the San Marino job is going to carry a stigma for would-be interested coaches because of having to deal with a certain breed of parent, who to this day get everything they put on their Christmas list. Get it? Good.

Former Charter Oak LB Keith Smith earns Freshman All-American honors at San Jose St. …


Keith Smith (#6, left) in the 2009 Southeast Division championship

Former Charter Oak linebacker Keith Smith’s huge freshman season at San Jose St. didn’t go unnoticed.

Smith, after making 116 tackles this season, earned Football Writers Association Freshman All-American honors. Smith was also named the WAC’s Freshman Player of the Year and second-team All-WAC overall.

At Charter Oak, Smith helped the Chargers win CIF championships in 2009 and ’10. The Chargers didn’t allow a point in Miramonte League play Smith’s senior season.

Aram’s take: Pretty impressive considering the ridiculously tough schedule that SJ St. played this year. More to come from Smith, for sure.