Temple City hoping Rob Castaneda can recharge once-proud football program

Temple City High School will turn to Rob Castaneda in hopes of recharging its once-proud football program.

Castaneda is the Rams new varsity football head coach after spending the past four seasons at tiny Ribet Academy in Glassell Park. He replaces Mike McFarland, who resigned this offseason after four years and a 13-29 record.

“For me, it’s a dream job,” Castaneda said. “My brother played there in 1996 and my boys played their first Pop Warner game ever there. It has some sentimental value. I’m really pleased that they felt I could get the program going in the right direction and I’m honored the administration gave me a shot.”

Temple City hasn’t had a winning record since 2009 when it went 5-4-1. Playoff victories have also been few and far between for a school that was once an area power and won seven CIF championships in the 1970s.

Beside Ribet Academy, Castaneda has had recent head coach stints at La Verne Lutheran and Western Christian. He is confident he can rejuvenate interest in Temple City’s football program among the school’s would-be athletes and feels that having over 70 players at his first team meeting is a positive first step.

“I think what happens is a lot of people go in there expecting to struggle right off the bat,” Castaneda said. “That’s all I’ve heard from everybody. I’ve heard from equipment managers, coaches and family members of the players that they just don’t have the size or the numbers or what have you.

“For us, we’re used to working with smaller numbers and smaller kids and getting the best out of them. We coach a certain style. We know we’re going to be smaller so we’re going to have to do things different.”

Area fans may remember Castaneda’s sons as standout football players at Los Altos in the mid-2000s. After starting their careers at Bishop Amat, both Matt and Tim Castaneda transferred to Los Altos and had success under then head coach Greg Gano.

Castaneda expects to have both his sons on his staff at Temple City, with Matt being the offensive coordinator and Tim possibly as the junior varsity head coach. Castaneda also plans to retain member of last year’s staff as well.