Baseball: Coach of the year?

GOTTA GO WITH MURPH..HE EXEMPLIFIES EVERY GOOD QUALITY WE WANT IN A HIGH SCHOOL COACH. THE WIN-LOSS RECORD IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

Nieto should not get coach of the year. He has lost too many players who have quit the team. He let one of the best pitchers walk away during the glendora tournament. That player was respected by all of his teammates.

I certainly did not intend to insult you (not sure where I did) and I was agreeing that i've seen things that are not perfect. I'm hoping that MHphd has an influence. And trust that there were those that had issues with other championship coaches like Kendrena, Martinez, Wiard, Lokar, and every football coach in our history.

You say it's better because we're winning. Well we were winning before too - and expect that to continue. So if you are truthful that it is getting better, let's try to treat Nieto as a work in progress.

But as 73 says, by all means stand up when things are handled inappropriately. MHphd's door is always open and he'll deal with you tactfully and with respect - have you ever had any contact with him when he's not? We've had our disagreements too - but he is always respectful. Coaches decisions he will not entertain, but when it comes to matters of ethics it's our obligation to do so.

Good luck!

truth matters,
You have just solidified my point. Great education is what AMAT is about. Yes we do have the sport programs to match, but the education is the real diamond you should be seeking not the ball field. I am not defending the coach because I am not personally involved with the program but yes I do defend AMAT. I am positive not all people like Nieto but that's something that goes on in all of the after school activitieS. Not all coaches or moderators are liked. Get involved and let your voice be heard afterall it is your money that pays the bills and that gives you a voice. As far the code of honor yes we do feel that, and anyone who has not attended AMAT will never understand it . When my kids were attending AMAT maybe I had an edge because of being an alumni, but when I saw things I did not like, by getting on commitees or boards I tried to get things changed and did. I hope you do not let the fact of Nieto still being there rob your younger son of the opportunity to go to AMAT. Heck let him play football.Good luck in your quest to change the matter at hand. Like Joe Amat has said give Doc Hemenway a chance he will straighten it out.

Honestly, I think it appears better becuase we are winning and that is all that seems to matter to certain people. Please Joe, do not insult me, we have been in the sports world a long time. We are not asking for "a nice coach" Maybe with what we have had in the past, we have higher expectations and we know what a GOOD coach is from top to bottom. By sending my boys to Amat, I expect good, decent, successful coaches. Nieto falls short on a few of those and his antics and behavior is embarasing, OH but not when we are winning. I swear he must be a Gemini, there is the devil on one shoulder egging on his bad behavior and on the other, well I wouldn't go as far as an angel but you get the message. I wish our voices could be heard and honest to goodness there are MANY more that feel this way about Nieto but will not say anything for fear a retalliation or being laughed at because as long as we are wining. I have given Nieto chance after chance - a leopard cannot change his spots.

Honestly, I think it appears better becuase we are winning and that is all that seems to matter to certain people. Please Joe, do not insult me, we have been in the sports world a long time. We are not asking for "a nice coach" Maybe with what we have had in the past, we have higher expectations and we know what a GOOD coach is from top to bottom. By sending my boys to Amat, I expect good, decent, successful coaches. Nieto falls short on a few of those and his antics and behavior is embarasing, OH but not when we are winning. I swear he must be a Gemini, there is the devil on one shoulder egging on his bad behavior and on the other, well I wouldn't go as far as an angel but you get the message. I wish our voices could be heard and honest to goodness there are MANY more that feel this way about Nieto but will not say anything for fear a retalliation or being laughed at because as long as we are wining. I have given Nieto chance after chance - a leopard cannot change his spots.

From what I understand, things are getting a little better...no? Try not to judge on first impressions. Take the time to notice if some positive growth is there. Maybe things are still the same.

This is from the archives

"...I can guarantee that MHphd has had a "discussion" with Nieto regarding his conduct. MHphd was the one that gave Nieto his first job HS at Cantwell and was responsible for the decision to bring him back after stints at JCs and USC. So he's, kind of, phd's guy. Clearly he needs to "readjust" to the level that he is coaching, behave and treat kids appropriately. BUT, it is much better to find a guy with baseball knowledge and try to mold his attitude than it is to find a nice guy that can't coach a lick. Granted, it'd be great to have both. And as far as I'm concerned the NCAA coaches don't have to like him they just have to respect his opinion on our players - which they do.

Here's to hoping he comes around before the need to make a move."
Posted by: Joe Amat | March 13, 2008 10:03 AM

I hope things are getting better, they appear to be. A little? What do you think? Honestly.

amat73, I know all the AMAT people claim to have the "code of honor" mentality, but if YOU really are honest (and you probably won't admit it on here) Nieto is not liked by many of our own people. HE is not getting my son a scholarship to college, HIS grades are, HIS hard work is, HIS achievements and YES the education that his father and I are paying for at a great school. Nieto is foul, he is not good with the kids (maybe a few of the superstars) he is a bad example and I hope my son grows up to become a kinder, smarter man then Nieto. You must not really know him BUT you feel the need to defend Amat and for some of you that includes everything in that package. Many of us beg to differ. I am hoping by the time my younger son is ready for BA, Nieto is long gone.

amat73, I know all the AMAT people claim to have the "code of honor" mentality, but if YOU really are honest (and you probably won't admit it on here) Nieto is not liked by many of our own people. HE is not getting my son a scholarship to college, HIS grades are, HIS hard work is, HIS achievements and YES the education that his father and I are paying for at a great school. Nieto is foul, he is not good with the kids (maybe a few of the superstars) he is a bad example and I hope my son grows up to become a kinder, smarter man then Nieto. You must not really know him BUT you feel the need to defend Amat and for some of you that includes everything in that package. Many of us beg to differ. I am hoping by the time my younger son is ready for BA, Nieto is long gone.

Nieto is horrible,
Well someone out there finally gets it. Get a top notch education with all requirements met for any university in the land ,play for one of the top baseball programs , you will get the scholarship because you can play both on the field and succeed in the classroom .

what is all this negative stuff about nieto? give us some insights.

Come on we are a smarter group than this aren't we??? Nieto does not in any way represent what you want in a High School coach. It is NOT all about the W-L record and Amat, not Nieto, gets kids into colleges always have and always will.. that is what they are supposed to do at a Private School. There are no props for that accomplishment, they had damn well better be getting kids into college. DUH..... Check around, Nieto is respected by few and very unwelcome in the baseball community. he is very fortunate to be coaching at such a fine school. It will be interesting to see what he does in the next few years.

It will go to Napolean Nieto. Amat has the best record and is going to run the table in the D5 on its way to back to back championships, thus giving Nieto Back to Back Championship. It is all set up for him seeing how the Tribune is Amat owned.

as much as i hate admit it, murphy of northview should be the coach of the year. the guy is a jerk and is hated around the valley because he is a cry baby but its obviously working for him. but besides that, i give him credit for the success he is having with the caliber of player he has to work with. there is only one div 1 kid on the team, pedroza, and murphy has managed to get the best out of them. if you look at them in the person you dont think of much of them. they are physically unimpressive, but on the field they get the job done. others may argue that nieto of amat is better, but he is surrounded with a more talented crop of players and still lost to northview. if it were a cry baby contest it would be a draw, but murphy edges him out as coach of the year.

Fred
I know this is for baseball coach of the year, but if you do coach of the year for all sports. It would have to be Coach Ruh of Walnut. Her teams took League in boys, and girls water polo. Also took league in boys, and girls swim. I had never heard of a school doing that.

I know times are tough for the blog with all the technical difficulties - but isn't it early for some of this nonsense!! For the record- i agree with most. NIETO SUCKS and I hope the Trib doesn't reward his behavior, regardless of his w-l record. He is not respected in the community, or by fellow coaches.

Coach K was and always be one of the best. Martinez set the bar high before Kendrena arived. Coach K kept the bar at that same level just as Nieto is too. Coach K's last year he had 3 players sign Division one: Goetz, Forthun, and Sifuentes. Last year Amat had two. Olivares was all Kendrena's but I think we would have to say Eusebio was Nieto because of his ties to Coach Frank Cruz and Coach Beck's ties to LMU. Anyways it doesn't really matter because it is like comparing apples and oranges. All 3 coaches at Amat have proven their worth by winning a CIF championship. Good luck to all Lancers and former Lancers.

Nieto knows how to work umpires? Yeah, the ones that are easily pursuaded. The umpires can't stand this guy, I've heard it from their mouths. Div. 1 signees from a private school that has a 50 mile radius on recruits doesn't do much for me. Kendrena set the bar high and the bar hasn't went any higher since he left...The best coaches are difference makers!!! Also, do the kids really play for this guy or for themselves? Ask them, he's the coach, nothing more to them.

The Coach of the year should be Andy Nieto. He does wonders with his players. Ya Ya I know it's division five but who cares. He will have 4 players sign to play division one college baseball. No other school in the valley will have more than two. He knows how to work umpires.

Coach of the year is rarely given to the best coach in the area. Some will say the best coach works with less and gets more or they'll say the team that wins cif should get it...what should take place is more emphasis on the program. Success of a program depends on many factors.
1. Winning-no doubt this is important and part of the criteria.
2. Consistancy- one year wonders or is being good becoming a habit?
3. Does the program have kids going to college or signing pro contracts?
4. Do the kids play hard and play as a team?
5. Is the Head Coach a person that you identify with the program and represents it with a passion for his/her program and does all those things with class.

There are more intangibles that go with it, but that's what I look for when discussing the best in coaching.