Top 5 sports principals in the Valley ...
Sports are the backbone that hold high schools together.
You want to set the tone for a rewarding school year? Try having a good football season. It can lift a school's collective feeling of pride higher than anything imaginable.
Continue that momentum with good basketball and soccer seasons, followed by success on the baseball or softball diamond, sprinkle in some championship swimming or track, and you've got the recipe for a high-spirited high school.
Strong athletic programs start at the top. Principals don't run, pass, dribble or shoot, but they do the behind-the-scenes stuff necessary to ensure their school's backbone is strong.
Good athletic programs need capable athletic directors and solid coaches. They also need administrative support and money. Again, it all starts at the top.
But for it to start at the top, it helps to have an actual sports fan running the show. Somebody who knows what they want and can determine whether they're getting it.
The names on the list below are those types of people.
1. Judith "Judi" North, South Hills: It's going to take something unforeseen for North to get ousted from the top spot.
My first encounter with North came at a South Hills football game, when I came across who I thought was the team mom. Only through conversation with somebody else on the sideline did I come to know that the woman urging her team on while following the line of scrimmage was none other than the school principal. Wow!
You get the feeling that North is given printouts of the San Antonio League standings alongside her daily reports about other things such as school budgets and test scores.
You see, what North understands is something that many of her peers just don't get - it's one thing to say "Sports are very important to our school" but it's another thing entirely to prove it.
North has equipped South Hills with top coaches in each of the big three sports - baseball, basketball and football. There is rarely coaching turnover in any of these sports.
Because of this, South Hills has its share of high-profile programs and does it while having the smallest enrollment in the San Antonio League.
2. William F. "Rob" Roberts III, Los Altos: It was the second half of Los Altos' nonleague football showdown against Damien this past fall when one of the school's light fixtures went out, thus delaying the game at a critical juncture.
The look on Roberts' face and his subsequent furor was similar to that of a couch potato's wrath when the DirecTV signal goes out at 10:10 a.m. on a Sunday morning in the fall. Get the picture?
Roberts is a sports fan who just happens to run a school.
Like North, Roberts makes his school's athletic programs a top priority. Also like North, Roberts is also a very vocal sideline observer at games.
The fact that sports are of major importance at Los Altos comes directly from Roberts, who is a former football coach.
The Conquerors own one of the best across-the- board athletic programs around. It's not by accident.
3. Kathleen "Kathie" Wiard, Charter Oak: Her father is legendary former Arcadia football coach Dick Salter. Her brothers Tim and Tom are varsity head football coaches outside of the Valley.
As if those bloodlines weren't enough, Wiard is married to Bishop Amat girls basketball coach Richard Wiard. You think she's into athletics?
With family like that, it's easy to see what the bottom line is - Charter Oak absolutely scored when it landed Wiard as principal.
The timing couldn't have been better for Charter Oak as Wiard will likely oversee the retirement and subsequent replacement of legendary football coach Lou Farrar.
That saga could make for some interesting days around Charger Country, but there's no doubt Wiard is well-equipped to handle it.
4. Fr. Patrick Travers, Damien: Unlike North or Roberts, you won't find Travers rooting on the sideline at football games. That's because he'll be in the press box working the game clock.
In case you hadn't noticed, Damien appears poised to become an athletic powerhouse over the next few years and much of that is due to Travers.
Although Travers has been around for five decades, it's what he's done lately that has set the stage for Damien to become the go-to spot for area boys athletes for decades to come.
Proof of this is already on display with the boys basketball team. They have a new gym, new attitude and presumably the best season in school history.
The football and soccer teams could be playing on a new FieldTurf surface sometime in the near future.
Damien's minor sports programs have traditionally ranked among the area's best, but Travers has set the stage for a mainstream sports explosion via top-notch facilities and a collection of coaching prodigies.
5. Dr. Merritt Hemenway, Bishop Amat: This might be the most controversial of the selections due to Amat's floundering football program, which is still the school's flagship sport. However, Hemenway's school is home to the area's most successful overall program - Amat's girls basketball team.
Hemenway, a former basketball referee, displayed the boldness of a riverboat gambler by hiring football coach Mark Verti to run the school's tradition rich football program.
Being at Amat, Hemenway must deal with the fact that most alumni view the football team's record as a barometer for how the entire athletic program is doing. But once fans get past football, they'll see that Hemenway's shrewd hiring of Andy Nieto as baseball coach was also very impressive.
It should also be noted that Amat's new gym and sports complex was erected under Hemenway's watch.
Let the debate begin ....
50 Comments
Leave a comment
Links
Tribune Prep Sports
Miguel Melendez's prep blog
In the Huddle
ESPN
OC Varsity
San Bernardino Sun Preps
LA times Varsity Blog
Daily Bulletin Preps
Whittier Daily News Preps
LA Daily News Preps
Long Beach Press Telegram Preps
Daily Breeze Preps
Dyestat Track and Cross Country
MaxPreps
Rivals.Com
College Level Athletes
Miguel Melendez's prep blog
In the Huddle
ESPN
OC Varsity
San Bernardino Sun Preps
LA times Varsity Blog
Daily Bulletin Preps
Whittier Daily News Preps
LA Daily News Preps
Long Beach Press Telegram Preps
Daily Breeze Preps
Dyestat Track and Cross Country
MaxPreps
Rivals.Com
College Level Athletes
Do u ever see north at any other games besides baseball and football?
Joe Amat,
Yes I received those letters and I agree with you 100%, Msgr. Carroll was intimidated by her. Is that why there is no mention to her leaving on the web site. I have said this all along. She has done so much for the school a little shout out giving her thanks for all the years and good luck in the future would have been the right thing to do. People not associacted with Amat don't know what he has let slide by, inmorality by coaches and players have been the norm, and when a parent brings these to his attention their child is blackballed, I have seen this in baseball a couple years back. Heck there are players that were blackballed but playing on college teams on scholarship because of the ability that Msgr. would not let be seen (fact). His inability to utilize key contributors such as the NFL players of today, offers from these players and past to help inprove the programs but he wants to control the money through the school and dole it out as he wants. This stuff has got to stop. I know Andy Nieto has ties with Heminway but I hear he is getting tired of his program paying for other school related functions, I hope this doesn't drive him away also.
Msgr. Carroll must go before he does to Amat what he did to St. Paul.
Start thr campaign, Msgr. Carroll must go!!!
It will end when the President (Msgr Carroll) retires and we get back to just doing what's best for kids instead of the political, penny pinching BS that goes on now.
Believe you me, we long for that day as much as anyone
Bishop Amat...As The World Turns....does it ever end?
john
You're right about KW-she was the real backbone behind amat. MHphd is a nice guy - but you know where nice guys finish. He is not a decision maker by nature (and a little spineless) - plus he has no power because of the bald guy. But here is the real slap in the face.
If you are an alumn and get the alumni newsletter, you can think back to this. Msgr announced that he was stepping up from Principal to President and was going to search for a new Principal. We know that KW applied. A year later we get a newsletter that said that Msgr would return as Principal because there were no "qualified candidates".
Was Msgr afraid of KW and was looking for a puppet like MHphd. I would have started looking just like KW did. No loyalty there!
Good Luck to her at CO
Soon Charter Oak will see what Mrs. Wiard has to bring, She will be at the top of the list for years to come. She has assisted with scholarships at AMAT for years. She is truly a loss to AMAT. I wisk Msgr. Carroll would have left and she would have been put in charge. This President is killing the AMAT atmosphere and the Principal Mr. Henenway is great but he is not decision maker. Carroll is. This needs to change.
joe amat,
good for them
To bad there is'nt a Top worse school prinsiples in the SGV. MS.MONTERO FROM SOUTH EL MONTE WOULD BE RIGHT ON TOP. SHE HATES SPORTS ESPCIALLY FOOTBALL.
To bad there is'nt a Top worse school prinsiples in the SGV. MS.MONTERO FROM SOUTH EL MONTE WOULD BE RIGHT ON TOP. SHE HATES SPORTS ESPCIALLY FOOTBALL.
Hate to tell you but the Amat gym was being completed when Hemenway came back and for the hiring of Verti, that came from Msgr Carroll's unwillingness to pay and Andy Nieto came to Amat because Hemenway gave him his first chance at coaching some many years back, let's see how long he stays around. All decisions at AMAT are run through Msgr. Carroll, this needs to be changed. Things would be a little different.
so being the #1 ranked team in the nation dosnt make you that good i guess then but remember the bishop girls team wasnt in div 1
so being the #1 ranked team in the nation dosnt make you that good i guess then but remember the bishop girls team wasnt in div 1
so being the #1 ranked team in the nation dosnt make you that good i guess then but remember the bishop girls team wasnt in div 1
so being the #1 ranked team in the nation dosnt make you that good i guess then but remember the bishop girls team wasnt in div 1
Haha! TY Mr. Amat...
Let's hope that person is not really from Damien. That would be embarrassing.
ummmm dhs#1,
there are no state playoffs in soccer
ummmm dhs#1,
there are no state playoffs in soccer
Bluorca umm DAMIEN is back to back state div 1 champs in soccer
Bluorca umm DAMIEN is back to back state div 1 champs in soccer
I agree with you Aram. Principle William at Los Altos is a strong advocate of sports. That's ONE of the reason we had my son playing basketball for him the last four years via a permit. We had such a big problem at Rowland with our daugther there was no way we wanted him to attend or play there. Although Principle William is a sports fan, he also cares about the education too. My son is the leader in the Miramonte league in Blocks, Rebounds and 2nd in steals, but he also has a 3.25, has been on the principles list for 3 years straight and is college bound. Although I believe we as parents had a lot to do with it, I Thank Los Altos too.
I agree with you Aram. Principle William at Los Altos is a strong advocate of sports. That's ONE of the reason we had my son playing basketball for him the last four years via a permit. We had such a big problem at Rowland with our daugther there was no way we wanted him to attend or play there. Although Principle William is a sport fan, he also cares about the education too. My son is the leader in the Miramonte league in Blocks, Rebounds and 2nd in steals, but he also has a 3.25, has been on the principles list for 3 years straight and is college bound. Although I believe we as parents had a lot to do with it, I Thank Los Altos too.
I agree with you Aram. Principle Williams at Los Altos is a strong advocate of sports. That's ONE of the reason we had my son playing basketball for him the last four years via a permit. We had such a big problem at Rowland with our daugther there was no way we wanted him to attend or play there. Although Williams is a sport fan, he also cares about the education too. My son is the leader in the Miramonte league in Blocks, Rebounds and 2nd in steals, but he also has a 3.25, has been on the principles list for 3 years straight and is college bound. Although I believe we as parents had a lot to do with it, I Thank Los Altos too.
Just thought I'd clarify something Mr. Tolegian...Rob Roberts is the meat behind Los Altos and its success but not just because of athletics. He has created a true "Renaissance" school in which academics are his first priority. These academics are celebrated in the same way as athletics and have helped to create the school culture they have today. This has given validity to the athletic program and created a positive school climate that all of us in the world of Renaissance schools are trying to achieve. Don't forget...highschool is more than just what happens on the field.......and I love ya!
I would say that Dick Sheehan would be on that list but his recent promotion to the district takes him out of the category.
to wrestling fan,
Bishop Amat Girls Basketball have made three straight trips to the State Final and are the reigning Back to Back State Champs (2005 & 2006 - and were runners up in 2004)
Can I ask anyone here the last time any SGV school has won a STATE championship in any sport?
Northview Wrestling 2002 State Champs!!!!!!!!
Can I ask anyone here the last time any SGV school has won a STATE championship in any sport?
Northview Wrestling 2002 State Champs!!!!!!!!
Can I ask anyone here the last time any SGV school has won a STATE championship in any sport?
Northview Wrestling 2002 State Champs!!!!!!!!
"charter oak isn't lucky we landed mrs. wiard are school is tooo strict and changed a lott....we were doing fine with mr.evers" ~ac
This comment above any other comments portrays how very fortunate CO has become..
It's called discipline son...get used to it. It's painful at times but you'll need it to become a real man.
Amat has no greater Lancer than Mr. Hemenway. He was principal once before and then he worked elsewhere only to come back to Amat a few years after. And even though I have criticized the Amat AD for not having a webpage dedicated to its flag sport (FB)....Hemenway's loyalty to the Amat Family is second to none.
Amat has no greater fan than Monsignor Zimmerman who is a bonifide sports junkie as MATMTWTBAG has stated. I've never seen a Father so dedicated as to stand side by side with the Amat players trying to fire up the team or yes, getting pissed at the Refs or throwing a typical sport tantrum. DID YOU SEE THAT CALL FATHER ZIMMERMAN!!! GO GET HIM! haha! An Amat game would not be an Amat game without Zimmerman patrolling the sidelines. He bleeds Royal Blue and Gold.
Mrs. Wiard will always be a Lancer no matter where she works. I'm so very proud of her accomplishments and Charter Oak is lucky to have her. May she continue to do well and be happy in life.
Aram,
I am very sure that you are right on these picks. Congratulations to Mr. Roberts he is by far a very inspiring sports fan who supports these student athletes on and off the field. No matter what time of year no matter what the sport may be you will find Roberts at one time or another at all the different sports. Also has earned alot of parents respect by including his children at these events. ( Great Father )
Aram,
I am very sure that you are right on these picks. Congratulations to Mr. Roberts he is by far a very inspiring sports fan who supports these student athletes on and off the field. No matter what time of year no matter what the sport may be you will find Roberts at one time or another at all the different sports. Also has earned alot of parents respect by including his children at these events. ( Great Father )
Just a side note for LA principal Mr. Roberts, but wasn't he the Head High School Football Coach at some JC before? I think I heard that he won a couple of championships at a Mt. Sac or something and would've been a great coach if not him pursuing a career as a principal, so if this is true then mabye he's had some influence towards Los Altos football program? Just a thought.
OH AND WHAT IS A GAY PORN SITE?
ATTN DON'T BE A TOOL - (THE HOMOPOHBE)ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..........
damien won it in golf i believe everyone has state patches on their jackets
and did dbhs beat chhs in bball friday?????
Can I ask anyone here the last time any SGV school has won a STATE championship in any sport?
Sorry we are boring you Elias. Maybe you'd be more comfortable at a gay porn site. That will be more to your liking I believe
To compare a lower level state basketball title for two seasons and the tradition, league titles, and 25-win seasons of the Glendora basketball program over the past 20 years isn't fair to Coach LeDuc and the Tartans. Or to DeSpain and Gano and Los Altos. Or to Coach Bastion and Smith at South Hills. Or to Coach Ochoa at Northview. Do some research about the history of this Valley. Believe it or not, high school sports didn't begin in the SGV when you started covering preps. Yes, Coach Wiard has a great program and has had a nice run, but it's going to take another 10 years of this kind of success to start comparing his program to the ones mentioned above. (And the other four programs are all public schools, which make it more impressive.)
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...........
I think Judith North is an exceptional principal and a wonderful person. She devotes her time, energy and heart to the students of SHHS. She is the best!
I think Judith North is an exceptional principal and a wonderful person. She devotes her time, energy and heart to the students of SHHS. She is the best!
Aram by the way the newspaper printed that Hemenway had Verti in charge of running the basketball programs...I was half asleep so I could be wrong but thats what thought I read.???
Why is it that when anything is said about AMAT all the snakes come crawling up from under the rocks to put in their 2 cents of negativity . All you haters out there just accept the fact that we are still and always will be the best in the Valley and that really has to do with the fine outstanding citizens that AMAT produces no matter what happens on the athletic fields .
Is it not funny that the two best principals(so-called) in the valley are at the two biggest cheating schools also?
Oh i know, i am just crying over spilled milk. Very much on the contrary. See i have facts that make this story true.
Since there are so many blanted incidents i will just share one stories..The first has to do with South Hills...See there was this one time when a couple of baseball players thought it was a good idea to have a few cocktails in the parking lot of the school...ooooh and one of them was a star pitcher, who was going to start a very important game that week..anyways when they got caught a very funny thing happened, nothing! Thats right nothing happend to these players. As a matter of fact they got to play in the game later that week. So i guess the great leason is: if you want to drink and break the rules, while having no consequences then you need to enroll at South Hills..Great principal?
There are other inciidents..like how 95% of a teams roster comes from outside their own school district? Did Wilson help you with those recruits Gano?
Aram you do a good job...But you would do a great job with a little investigating.
charter oak isn't lucky we landed mrs. wiard are school is tooo strict and changed a lott....we were doing fine with mr.evers
The same Steve Ramirez who tells us a story around the office about how some Amat fans almost ran him over in the parking lot because he wrote the team didn't deserve to play De La Salle that season. Yeah, I'll hit him up and see what he has to say.
As for team sports, there aren't too many programs around the SGV who own back-to-back state titles in recent years.
I see where you are going John,,,I agree we are not knocking anything out of the park lately are we. Yes our girls BB team has won two straight State titles and that does help recruiting but our glory centers around what put us on the map and that is football....It is tough these days over at Amat...the high cost of everything has slowed down lots of lower and even upper middle class parents from sending their kids to Private Schools when so many publics schools are having sucess with their programs...It is all about money these days....I do admit great times for football at Amat may be hitting a all time low but what are you gonna do?...we just continue to fight the good fight and see where the chips land...it is all cycles....At Amat we stand by our teams and will continue to do so..up or down we are proud of out teams.
MATMTWTBAG -
The post by Aram may have been about Principals, however he made a joke of a statement when he said, "Hemenway's school is home to the area's most successful overall program - Amat's girls basketball team."
Aram in NUTS, and needs a history lesson in SGV High School Sports. I think Steve Ramirez could help you out there big guy. I am with Up for Debate on this one.
Forget the principals, is Bishop Amat girls really the most successful program in the Valley? Are we only talking the past 5 years or over a longer period of time? They've always been pretty good, but only great for a few years. I wouldn't put them in the most successful category over Glendora boys basketball, Los Altos football, Northview wrestling, or South Hills baseball. Those programs have been established powers for many years.