El Monte names former Workman coach Eric MacIntyre new head coach

El Monte High School has hired Eric MacIntyre as its new varsity football head coach.

MacIntyre replaces Joel Sanchez, who was at the helm for 13 years and made the once-dormant program respectable again with a league championship in 2012 and five playoff appearances.

“In the seven or eight years I’ve been living in this Valley and the four years I’ve been coaching in this Valley, I’ve kept track of what they’ve (El Monte) have done,” MacIntyre said. “They’ve been consistently good. I respect everything (Sanchez) did.

“I would be foolish to say we’re not trying to continue all the hard work and success they’ve had and just try and build on it.”

MacIntyre was most recently the head coach at Workman last fall. He resigned that position recently to pursue the El Monte job, which went through it’s first round of the hiring process without receiving any applicants.

Under Sanchez, El Monte ended a league championship and playoff win drought of 33 years. The Lions also beat Mission Valley League stalwart Arroyo twice during Sanchez’s tenure. Prior to the two wins, El Monte hadn’t beaten Arroyo since 1991. But Sanchez left shortly after the season to spend more time with his family.

MacIntyre was the head coach at Workman for the past three seasons, posting a record of 7-23. He hasn’t finalized a staff yet, but said it will likely include several former Workman assistants.

“A good group of the guys from Workman are coming with me,” MacIntyre said. “Some of them had offers elsewhere. If any of the former coaches are interested, I’d like to sit down and interview them. I think consistency is important.”