F.A. will do just fine. Los Altos is a winning school and thats it! When you go there, you already know you must win and thats why the kids go there! They must keep up the tradition and the kids will. Do you really think that the best football program in the valley would just let anybody take over and that Coach Gano would just give the position away?? I don't think so!!

Class of 85
Bring back the ATK

The comment about the valley of idiots is directed to those it holds true for. These people rather see a team win a championship, than to see a kid go to college & not just the star atheletes the hole team 100%.

The comments from Felipe about holding up the tradition of the LA program is wrong. It is about the kids and only the kids. Love,Honesty,Honor,Compasion,Commitment,Happiness are the foundation of a great program not the XOs.

BOB,
Most of your post was good, but why the comment about "Valley of Idiots" followed by the insight of what makes a good program... "Love,Honesty,Honor,Compasion,Commitment,Happiness are the foundation of a great program not the XOs."

The Valley of Idiots comment is harsh and self-deprecating if you are from the SGV, and if you are not from the SGV why make such a mean comment? Besides, it's not true and just completely discredits your otherwise accurate statement.

My only point about Coach Ladeceur is that he was able to build arguably the nation's best program ever starting at a very young age. I do realize that Coach Ladeceur and his success at DLS is a very extreme example, but what the heck. If a young guy built a major DI power, why cant a young guy bring back his already well established Alma Mater in a lower CIF division?

What I like about the LA situation is that a local LA legend (Filipe) got the chance and he will surely be supported by his old coach who hopefully still has a lot of pride in the program. It shows that the principal of the school must have really respected what Gano was able to accomplish as a coach if he allowed the coaching choice to be so streamlined. Other schools take a very long time to conduct searches and lose time and continuity with the kids.

Most importantly, though, Felipe has already brought a lot of pride to the school as a CIF Champion and valley MVP as well as graduating from Pitzer (that's not just any SCIAC school). So give him a shot to see what he can do as a head coach. If it does not work out then you can conduct a much broader search shortly after a season when you would have a better chance of picking up a more experienced coach. With the timing of the announcement, it would be tough to find a coach with a lot of experience who is willing to bail out on his current program at such a late time. Would you really want somebody who would bail out this late and leave his existing team stranded?

The other arguments and curiosity as to "why were the more experienced assistants not tapped for the position" are valid. Somebody should find out whether or not those guys were even interested in taking over as head coach and dealing with all the additional administrative stuff. Maybe those other assistant coaches declined the opportunity to interview.

Do not even begin to compare Bob Ladeceur with any program in this entire valley. Gano and most coaches in this =valley could barely wash his jock strap. It is not about winning on losing, it is about weather this coach can inspire his kids to be better people in a Valley of idiots. His success wil be measured in how many kids persue a similiar education like his own. Can he convert these boys into young men & great people? It is only natural that great people do great things off and on the field. Love,Honesty,Honor,Compasion,Commitment,Happiness are the foundation of a great program not the XOs.

Do not even begin to compare Bob Ladeceur with any program in this entire valley. Gano and most coaches in this =valley could barely wash his jock strap. It is not about winning on losing, it is about weather this coach can inspire his kids to be better people in a Valley of idiots. His success wil be measured in how many kids persue a similiar education like his own. Can he convert these boys into young men & great people? It is only natural that great people do great things off and on the field. Love,Honesty,Honor,Compasion,Commitment,Happiness are the foundation of a great program not the XOs.

Bob Ladeceur did not take over a program with 11 CIF titles and there was no pressure to win.

The pressure is on at Los Altos and chances shouldn't be given to coaches with no heading coaching experience. Win and win now. Amat is reloading and looking to take back the Valley and we hire a puppy. What qualifications does he have. He went to Pitzer but did he play four years there? We are a big reason why Amat was not getting the talent recently but that looks like it is going to change. Is Felipe a good person? Sure he is. Is he smart? Of course, he went to a SCIAC school. Can he get the job done? He better.

Felipe must be smart and determined if he graduated from Pitzer. The Claremont Colleges are full of high achievers. He probably has a lot of pride in his alma mater. I'm sure he will put everything into this assignment. Gano is still on campus. Hopefully he will give some assistance. Los Altos should give Felipe a chance. He is one of your own.

How old was Bob Ladeceur when he took over and built Concord DeLaSalle's program? I think he too was a young guy.

I really hope the LA people give this new coach a chance. By the looks of the blog this is going to be another Verti situation. Already bashing him and he hasn't even coached a down of football. Best of luck to the new coach because he is going to need it.

I wish Felipe lots of luck and hope he as a strong stomache to weather all the BS crap he will read about himself on these blogs, if he loses games.

Most high school head coaches are nothing special anyways, they just have the job because of their degree. In the league Los Altos plays in, the only impressive teams in terms of coaching are Bonita & Charter Oak. Diamond Ranch wins off of talent, not coaching.

"Age has nothing to do with it. You can be out of touch at any age." Quote from Bear Bryant

showsumpride,

your amazing. you sound like a bitter old man. maybe your son or brother didn't get the playing time you thought he should of gotten. but obviously, you don't know Gano. he is truly one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. btw, you don't win 4 titles without knowing something about the game regardless of how much talent you have. and if you knew him, he would tell you that he had tremendous talent. in matter of fact, there's not a coach who wouldn't tell you that. your an idiot!

whos says you can be to young to be a head coach??

a lot of the old guys in this valley are screwin it up anyways why not let a young motivated guy get in there and give it a shot

He didn't hack it at Pitzer. How good a player was he really? Low division with high quality stars. He doesn't sound polished. Farrar and Layton are going to eat him up. Age is everything.

I have two boys attending LA and will continue to support LA and Felipe!! Good Luck Coach! I know many parents who have already jumped on board to support you and your program at LA!

i know gano by the way and he was a horrible person to be around. All he cares about is winning, and he does not care how. The talent that los altos has is incredible they should be a power house every year. But when you have a guy that cant really coach just recruit players and call plays, a 4-6 record is what you get when a couple of injuries happen. Even with the injuries that happenned last year los altos was still one of the most talented players in the valley, all they needed was some good coaching. Which they didnt have!

A BIG MISTAKE AND YOU WILL FIND THAT OUT WHEN YOU LOSE KIDS TRANSFERRING TO WILSON AND BISHOP. IT IS GOING TO BE A WASTE OF TIME THIS HIRE. KIDS CAN BARELY RESPECT THEIR PARENTS NOWADAYS AND YOU WANT THEM TO RESPECT THIS 26 YR. OLD.... ONCE THE LOSING STARTS THE DOMINOES START TO FALL AND IT BECOMES A NIGHTMERE FROM THERE ON OUT. YOU WOULD THINK LOS ALTOS WOULD BE SMART ENUF AND NOT DO WHAT AMAT DID. IN THIS,, WASTE OF TIME ERA... YOU WILL KILL YOUR POWER FOR RECRUITING AND KEEPING HOMEGROWN KIDS. AFTER TWO YEARS OF VERTI I FEEL SORRY FOR YOUR JUNIORS AND SENIOR FOOTBALL PLAYERS. THEY WILL HAVE NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT THEIR HS PLAYING DAYS ONLY THAT THEY PLAYED FOR A YOUNG COACH WHO GOT THEM NOWHERE. UNLESS HE IS MICRO MANAGED HE MAY HAVE A CHANCE.

Sounds like what Verti is to Amat, is what Aguilar is to Los Altos. What a mistake! Great player, just not ready to assume a HC at top football program.

you know i hear alot of talk about how can a young guy coach a winning program???? thats stupid age does not matter all that matters is the coaching skill. Look at merrill the ad at wilson when he started coaching he was a great coach. In fact one of the best coaches in the sgv. so all that stuff about being in tune with todays hip hop thats dumb aguilar if he fails or succeds will be based on coaching ability not on age.

First of all I am a LA supporter, you talk about LA tradition, and hopefully LA will go back to tradition with Felipe. Gano's tradition is to win while stepping over the young kids that have been working their way through the local systems (tradition). Despain’s LA tradition didn’t transfer in seniors into the football program, like the other local traditional powerhouse Bishop Amat. Don’t get me wrong I hate Bishop Amat, but they do it right. Build from within your system. Coach up the kids …...

Fred, can you please look into the hiring of the new coach at AZUSA HIGH SCHOOL.

They're are announcing the new coach today. Hopefully we're getting an experience coach.

All I have to say is give the guy a chance. Just because he is young, does not mean the players will not respect him. There are several young coaches who I have witnessed who have a ton of success. Give Coach Aguilar a chance and remember, the first couple years will probably be rough, but let's see how he does in the long run.

Having met, and watched, Felipe a number of times as a football and a baseball player I know that he is a great young man, as was Mark Verti. The qualities that made both of them formidable players are the same qualities that could make both of them formidable coaches.They were not the most talented, but had great work ethic and were extremely intelligent (MV to UCLA, FA to Pomona-Pitzer)

Felipe could learn from the mistakes that were made at Amat and the advantage that LA has is that he will have mentors around and, from his interview, looks like he will try to keep his experienced staff around him - which MV didn't do.

good luck to Felipe...but not too much!:?)

Having met, and watched, Felipe a number of times as a football and a baseball player I know that he is a great young man, as was Mark Verti. The qualities that made both of them formidable players are the same qualities that could make both of them formidable coaches.They were not the most talented, but had great work ethic and were extremely intelligent (MV to UCLA, FA to Pomona-Pitzer)

Felipe could learn from the mistakes that were made at Amat and the advantage that LA has is that he will have mentors around and, from his interview, looks like he will try to keep his experienced staff around him - which MV didn't do.

good luck to Felipe...but not too much!:?)

I dont think there is one Los Altos Player that can step in at Bishop Amat and be a first string player. Remember the three Amat players that left for greener pastures last year, well they were 3rd stringers for Amat before they left and were first stringers over at Los Altos. Los Altos does not have anything Amat wants. The one thing Gano did right last year was to not schedule Bishop Amat for this year, oh how LA would have been humiliated. Felipe will hear it here loud if he does not win right away, like Verti he is in a program that expects a winner. 26 yrs old? too young to be the big cheese. I wonder how long they let him have the reins until Gano comes back and restores order.

Hiring based on Tradition doesn't work. Also Head coaches with two years coaching experience(total) doesn't work either.

sign Bishop Amat

I don't like this at all. The parents were ignored again. Who decided to put this kid into a major program at Los Altos? Its a crying shame that we are going to lose kids to Amat. Look at their coaching lineup! It's a whos who of coaches, and tell me LA could not have gone through the same effort??!! Look for a lot of empty spots in the stands this fall. Kids will be going elsewhere.

Boy does this look familiar or what ?

A new coach with no head coaching experience comming into a program that has won so often in the past ?

Soon, friends of the newest coach will be complaining about the cat calls from the stands, and others will be noting the personal attacks on his friends and family on this blog and at the games.

After a season of two (if he is not winning) the same folks who loved him so dearly early on and supported this hiring decision, will be demanding that he step down "for the good of the program," and still others will be quick to say, "give him time...give him 5 years...give him good players to coach...give him another chance, because, he will, one day.....develope into a good coach."

Hummmm.... sounds real familiar here eh...

Boy does this look familiar or what ?

A new coach with no head coaching experience comming into a program that has won so often in the past ?

Soon, friends of the newest coach will be complaining about the cat calls from the stands, and others will be noting the personal attacks on his friends and family on this blog and at the games.

After a season of two (if he is not winning) the same folks who loved him so dearly early on and supported this hiring decision, will be demanding that he step down "for the good of the program," and still others will be quick to say, "give him time...give him 5 years...give him good players to coach...give him another chance, because, he will, one day.....develope into a good coach."

Hummmm.... sounds real familiar here eh...

Gano, was a great football coach. The way he was able to talk to the boys and encourage them was awesome. When you get to know a coach away from the field you can see how geuine they really are. He cared and respected his players just as much as they respected him.
If you feel Coach Felipe was a mistake, who are you to judge? Coach Gano was young once and everyone needs a starting point. Give the guy a chance. Your right, just because one has a lot a talent on the field does not make them a great coach, but how would we know if we have not seen that side of him. If you are a true Los Altos fan hang on for the ride, we do each day with our favorite teams.
Good Luck Coach Gano and hang on Coach Felipe, prove all these people wrong! It won't be easy but like you said you are young with much energy. People will see how strong you really are when all the critizim continues throughout the year!!

Gano, was a great football coach. The way he was able to talk to the boys and encourage them was awesome. When you get to know a coach away from the field you can see how geuine they really are. He cared and respected his players just as much as they respected him.
If you feel Coach Felipe was a mistake, who are you to judge? Coach Gano was young once and everyone needs a starting point. Give the guy a chance. Your right, just because one has a lot a talent on the field does not make them a great coach, but how would we know if we have not seen that side of him. If you are a true Los Altos fan hang on for the ride, we do each day with our favorite teams.
Good Luck Coach Gano and hang on Coach Felipe, prove all these people wrong! It won't be easy but like you said you are young with much energy. People will see how strong you really are when all the critizim continues throughout the year!!

Coach Gano is a true sportman. He did it right and for the right reasons. You guys spend your time on these blogs have no clue what coaching is about. He kept that program at the top and carried the torch. Felipe will do the same with less talent. Why don't we save the critque till after the results. Good Luck LA the SGV prayes for your staff and your players during this time of transition and wishes you the best of luck!

Coach Gano is a true sportman. He did it right and for the right reasons. You guys spend your time on these blogs have no clue what coaching is about. He kept that program at the top and carried the torch. Felipe will do the same with less talent. Why don't we save the critque till after the results. Good Luck LA the SGV prayes for your staff and your players during this time of transition and wishes you the best of luck!

Coach Gano is a true sportman. He did it right and for the right reasons. You guys spend your time on these blogs have no clue what coaching is about. He kept that program at the top and carried the torch. Felipe will do the same with less talent. Why don't we save the critque till after the results. Good Luck LA the SGV prayes for your staff and your players during this time of transition and wishes you the best of luck!

This change was coming and expected, but to give the job to this young man is not right LA needs to bring in someone with alot more experience and someone that knows how to run a big time program. From what I herd from some of the parents there is not much left at LA and will be lucky to win two games this year. Gano likes coach Felipe and he was a great player at LA but what LA needs is someone that is more seasoned. All I can say is good luck to the young man and wish him the best.

Wilson Wildcat Winner...

You obviously don't know Felipe Aguilar, and you obviously don't know Los Altos High School. This hire is not about who is the most "qualified". Felipe would admit that, on paper, he is not the most "qualified" person for the job.

Los Altos High School, however, is a place that thrives off of it's own culture and history. What works at Los Altos is one word..."tradition". By that standard, there are few people who fit the bill better than does Felipe Aguilar.

What's sad is that hacks like you will judge him long before he ever has the chance to show what he can truly do. I, for one, think it was a good hire. Felipe has tremendous football knowledge, respect from the players, championship experience and support from the Los Altos family. He'll be successful in time.

WOW! Shocked that LA would higher a coach with no head coaching experience but one would ask How much control of the team will Felipe have? How much input will Gano have outside looking in? The problem hear is how is a young kid who's in tune with today's hip hop going to earn the respect of his players? It's hard enough for coaches who are alot older to do that. Its a sad day that a power house of a program is going through a rebuilding process. Good Luck LA!

Best of Luck to Coach Gano .
As far as Coach Aguilar , BEST OF LUCK TO HIM ! The cupboards are pretty bare & it will take more than a few good plays to be competitve in that league .He may have been a GREAT PLAYER , but as we all know a great player DOES NOT make a great coach .

Fight On
TM

i thought the vote for divisional changes was supposed to take place this week.

Well all you football players who want to stand a chance at getting recognized better go apply at Amat before the door closes on you. Better hurry! Wilson isn't going to do it for you either. Playing for a 25 year old coach with limited history?? Come on, be serious. What a shame for the players there who deserve a better chance. Tell me no one better was qualified for the job?

Gano has left the program under much scrutiny from parents wondering why he chooses recruits over homegrown HH kids. He leaves at a time when the talent level has run its course and there is slim pickings and no sight of a winner on the horizon (better protect my winning record Buuuurp!). In Comes Felipe A. picking up and having to rebuild. The cries from parents already of "he is not experienced enuf" and why did we not do a coach search first?. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM sounds like Mark Verti and Bishop Amat all over again but this time it is you Los Altos that gets to ride this blog of put downs and your coach sucks retoric. Get ready because Amat bloggers are licking their chops for a payback of insults. See you just never know when it will come back to haunt you. Stay tuned football season is right around the corner and the slams will be locked and loaded. Felipe may have been a great player but does that make him a great coach...go ask Mark Verti.

Breaking news "GRI" has also resigned. The former blogster has now official no one to blog about.

We thank you "GRI" may B.I.G. in peace.

Blog in peace.

It truley is a said day!

Fred,

Are also going to meet with "GRI". Maybe you can have a story and a video interview with "GRI".

I am not bitter, I am happy. Hopefully Aguilar won't make the same mistakes that Gano made. We have lots of good local talent, develop the local talent.

"Head Coach not Head Recruiter"

GRI

Bitter 'till the end, eh little man?

GRI

Bitter 'till the end, eh little man?

Why no interview process? Is Felipe Aguilar the most qualified candidate for the position? Does Greg Gano's resignation mean he's not retired and potentially may still coach football someplace else after his daughter graduates from high school? What does this mean for his "legendary" defensive coordinator Lee Fair? Does Felipe Aguliar have to assemble an entire new staff or is that part of the reason for his hiring that the old staff will still be part of the new staff? How many transfer really have left Los Altos and have any of them decided to go to our school next door Wilson now with our new head coach?

Felipe Aguilar is the next coach, former Trib player of the year.

Fred,

So who's going to be the new coach? I have been hearing Offensive coordinator Felipe Aguilar was in the mix for the head coaching position. I hope LA can pick one up quickly, spring practice starts in 2-3 weeks.

Coach Gano,
Sincerely I "thank you" for 11 great years at LA. I wish you the best of luck with the Softball team. You have been a pillar in this community for a long time.

Much respect to you and your family.

Thanks again

sorry to see Greg Gano step down. Im surprised that Los Altos would name Felipe Aguilar head coach without a full coaching search. Im sure they would have had a number of experienced coaches apply and i dont think that Aguilar is ready to be a head coach yet. His age and lack of experience question as to whether he is the man qualified to be head coach at a progam like Los Altos

Knowing a little about what is going on at LA, I hope that Gano truly walks away from the football program and lets Felipe Aguilar coach. Based on the number of kids that are transfering out already it may take Felipe a few years to clean up Gano's mess.