UPDATE: D-Ranch coach Roddy Layton says no interest in Glendora job.
UPDATE: Adding new coach to potential list. See Steve Garrison below … AND FOR ANOTHER UPDATE.
Before Mark Pasquarella showed us what we all knew about the potential of Glendora’s football program, the Tartans head varsity football coach job wasn’t as coveted as it is now. So, with Pasqy stepping down, there should be plenty of interest from all over to be the man in charge of The Pride of the Foothills. Some say it’s a one-man race, others, i.e. me, think it may not be that easy. Here’s what I got for good potential. I have no clue if any of these coaches will apply, but let’s have some fun with it.
Steve Garrison: UPDATE: Garrison is no longer an assistant at Damien, he’s actually on staff at San Dimas now coaching tight ends and special teams. I want to thank Robledo for reminding about this one. Garrison really coveted the Glendora job and went for it when Pasquarella got hired. If Coach Garrison is itching to be the head man again somewhere, Glendora would probably be at the top of his list. If Glendora can’t open a teaching position, you can move Garrison right to the top of the list because he’s used to teaching at Monrovia and commuting east along the foothills everyday for practice. Garrison’s body of work at Monrovia speaks for itself and Glendora would be score big time if it got him.
Brandon Rohrer: Robledo and his sources seem to think Rohrer, a Glendora grad, is the overwhelming favorite. Sounds plausible as Rohrer has done a solid job at La Puente and even has a former Tartans legend on his staff in ex-QB Jacob Crook at LP. But going from LP and the Montview League to Glendora and the Baseline League is a big leap. And would the current veterans on Glendora’s staff want to take orders from somebody half their age? I don’t have the numbers, but I have to think that Rohrer would be the youngest coach in the entire Inland Division. Rohrer’s hiring would usher in a very new era, if it happens. It seems fitting, but it would be a very, very bold move by Glendora’s administration if it happens.
Bill Zernickow: Coach Z had a pretty legendary athletic career at Glendora as a student. He’s probably done all he can at San Dimas. So wouldn’t it make sense if he takes an even bigger challenge at his alma mater? And with a defensive coordinator like Brian Mustain at his side, those two could more than handle the challenge of stepping up into Baseline League and Inland Division.
Dominic Farrar and Roger Lehigh: Glendora is just right over the hill from Charter Oak and there’s no doubt that Farrar and Lehigh know just how fruitful the Tartans program can be. But it’s probably longshot since both have designs on staying at CO The Godfather retires. Still, though, if contacted, I think both would listen.
Mike Mooney: Glendora basically is what Temple City used to be, but on a larger scale. So who better to handle the lay of the land than a coach like Mooney? He got a raw deal at San Marino and (almost) everybody knows it. From what I can tell, there are people in high places throughout Glendora’s upper echelon with Temple City ties, so that makes Mooney’s case even better. Does Mooney want to get back into coaching at the high school level? I don’t know, but obviously the situation would have to be right.
Roddy Layton: Yes, Layton is entrenched at Diamond Ranch where he’s become an almost iconic figure, but the Pomona school district isn’t known as one of the worst around for no reason. So, why not try something new if you’re Layton? We all know Layton likes to play the big boys, whether D-Ranch is a big boy itself or not. At Glendora, Layton would be to play against the Baseline League and Inland Division, which is chalk full of coaches and programs he knows quite well. A longshot, sure. But intriguing nonetheless.
Steve Bogan: I thought there may be something to this, but I called Coach Bogan, whose reaction was “I think they should talk Mark into staying. He’s a great coach and an even greater human being.” Bogan went on to stay that he’s not interested and that he’s come to the realization that South Hills is definitely the place for him.
Jim Arellanes and Brian Zavala: Yes, it’s a real longshot. But when Arellanes and Zavala were together at Northview, they did some good things. These two are both young. Arellanes knows offense and Zavala knows defense, and they both want back in eventually. So why not here? A packaged deal, no matter who it is, isn’t likely given the current state of teaching jobs, but if somebody at Glendora wanted to gamble, hiring these two could pay off nicely.
Scott Morrison: Personally, I’ll be stunned if Morrison isn’t coaching at Wilson or Los Altos next season. But, I think his past experience having coached against Glendora puts him in the mix if he does apply. Morrison knows the area well having been at Damien and could use that to his advantage. Like I said, I think Morrison’s next stop is elsewhere in the HLPUSD, but this is a thought.
Brian Mustain: As I said in the Mooney comment, there are Temple City ties in high places at Glendora Unified. So Mustain will be well-known to the powers that be and he certainly has only strengthened his resume while at San Dimas under Coach Z. Mustain has head coaching experience before, so if he applies, he has to be in the mix.