Coaches need to have an open mind
This story comes from longtime staffer Jim McConnel, the man we call, "The King" around the office. He writes a weekly Then & Now column, and wrote a great story after talking to legendary coach Mal Eaton.
What does it take to coach a high school football team?
Who better to answer that question than Mal Eaton, one of the Valley's all-time great coaches.
"Well, I can tell you right now, you can't be successful without support from the administration," Eaton said. "When I came to West Covina High in 1955 to start up the football program, my principal was Maurice `Cat' Wooden, John Wooden's older brother. And Maurice had the same background, he had been an All-American basketball player at Indiana. He was both academically and athletically inclined and a great guy to work for.
"He was an enabler, in a good sense. He allowed me to operate the program, gave me full support. So that was a big key to the success we had at West Covina.
"It was the same way at Los Altos in the 1970s. Pat Mauch, the principal, and Dwayne DeSpain, the coach, worked together great, and the school had an incredible run of winning teams. You have to have the backing from your administration."
To continue reading, click thread.
Eaton also pointed out the need to be receptive to new ideas.
"You can't get stuck in the past," Eaton said. "You need to expose yourself to new ideas. Two of the best I came across early on at West Covina I got from the Anaheim High program, which was one of the premier programs of the 1950s.
"At Anaheim, they were using weightlifting and bodybuilding techniques long before most schools, and I liked the idea so I got a guy from Universal Gyms on campus and installed a weight room. I believe we were the first school in the Valley to have one.
"Another thing they were doing at Anaheim was a booster program. Again, I liked the concept so I brought it on board at West Covina. Now, I didn't use it as a fundraiser. I used it to give anyone who was interested in the team a chance to learn more about it and to have the chance to ask me questions. That helped build a fan base for us.
"You have to be receptive to new ideas. You can learn if you listen to those who are the best. I picked up a lot of information going to talks by guys like Lou Holtz and Ara Parseghian and John McKay."
Eaton, perhaps surprisingly, does not believe you need to be a genius with X's and O's to be a successful high school football coach.
"It is a game of fundamentals," Eaton said. "It all starts with blocking and tackling. You can teach anything else you like, but if you can't get your kids to block and tackle correctly nothing else is going to work for you.
"Blocking and tackling and proper conditioning. A team that excels in those areas is going to win, pure and simple.
"After that, it really helps to have a plan and a goal. Coaches make plans, the players set the goals. For us, our goal every year was to win league. Not to win every game, or to win a CIF title. To win league. It worked for us, because we won 11 consecutive league titles. A goal should be something that the players can achieve, but difficult enough that they will need to excel to do so."
Eaton also stressed the importance of gaining the support of the student body.
"I always wanted to involve as many people as possible in our program," Eaton said. "Some coaches may feel otherwise, but I always felt I needed the support of the students. To me, our pep rallies were very important. I wanted the students to identify with the team. It built support and also gave our players a real lift. Don't forget your fan base.
"At West Covina, we started with a field and nothing else. Everything we eventually had, the lights, the bleachers, the scoreboard, came about due to community support. It takes a total community effort to build a successful program.
"I admit, it may have been easier to gain that support back in the 1950s. West Covina High was the only high school in town, so we had that going for us. It was the same way at Pomona, where the city only had one high school back then. Same way at Covina. Same way at Alhambra. One high school. People identified more with the high school team back then.
"But that's not to say you can't build that kind of support today. I think it's a real plus that the current West Covina High coach, Mike Maggiore, is a hometown boy who played for Edgewood High and later on played for me at Mt. SAC. Same thing at South Hills, where coach (Steve) Bogan grew up here in West Covina and played at Edgewood.
"In fact, Bogan played for Kenny Wells at Edgewood, and Kenny played for me when I coached at Bonita High, so there is a continuity there. It's not necessarily that Bogan coaches exactly like me, but you see him using things he learned from Kenny that Kenny learned from me. For a coach, that is very gratifying."
So, for someone who coached football in our area for nearly 40 years, are there any facets of Mal Eaton sports fans might not know about?
"You know, there are a couple things I don't think I have ever talked much about publicly," Eaton said. "My greatest fear wasn't losing, it was having one of my players suffer a catastrophic injury. I feared that more than anything else. We always screened and prepared our players so that they were strong enough and properly conditioned to be able to avoid serious injuries.
"And, I am pleased to say, not once did one of my players suffer a catastrophic injury. But I am quick to acknowledge there is an element of luck in that sort of thing, and I was lucky - or blessed, however you want to look at it.
"The other thing people might not know, I always had my West Covina High teams say a prayer just prior to the game. We didn't do this out on the field, we would go back to the lockerroom. But we always prayed. My first team decided on the Lord's Prayer for our pre-game prayer, and we stuck with that. I never forced players to pray, they could refrain, but I can't remember that happening.
"I suppose if we did that nowadays I would be fired. But something about the Lord's Prayer just seemed to work. It is a universal prayer. We weren't praying for victory or even to play well. We were praying for protection and for guidance and for good sportsmanship.
"For me, I feel blessed to have been able to touch so many lives in a positive manner. I am a rich person because of that, not in terms of dollars but in terms of well-being and great memories."
jim.mcconnell@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2383
Comments
Wilson Boosters(some),
Wow, you guys(gal?)are a tough bunch!
You're current football head coach; played D1 football, coached at a championship HS program, and is currently being mentored by the HEAD COACH AT *AUBURN*!!!
And for some, this is not good enough?
Incredible.
"Be careful what you ask for..."
~Football Jones
Posted by: foobtall jones | August 29, 2008 9:39 AM
New York,
Our board had a very constructive meeting with school administration. The outcome was very positive. The principle setup a communication channel between Pop Warner and the School Administration. We were told that Coach Hoyd is not in that communication channel. I was told that the AD, Merrill was very supportive of our program. HLP was getting some bad PR on this blog, but from what I can see it was all generated by the booster club, which is crazy. These people on the booster club don't have a clue on whats going on. The comments on this blog, in meeting & at the school aren't helping the school. The freshmen team this year took a major hit. Bottom line all issues have been resolved.
Posted by: HLP Parent | August 29, 2008 8:13 AM
HLP Parent,
Thanks for the info. I certainly realize that this is not the 1970's, but arguably the most successful local varsity program ever (Temple City in the 1970's)was very integrated with the Pop Warner program. I beleive the Pop Warner program ran the same system that Coach Hitchcock ran at the high school.
For Wilson's sake, I hope there is eventually harmony between the two programs.
Posted by: New York | August 29, 2008 7:47 AM
SICK OF IT,
Since you called me she, you must be from the booster club, I thought the school administration told you to stay off the blog.
Posted by: Hoyd is a Joke ......... | August 29, 2008 7:05 AM
Frosh Facts,
I am advising you to stop posting on this blog. The kids know who you are and it isn't good for the team. Please be advise that their are 5 kids from HLP that are on the starting Offense, they are not very pleased by your comments.
Posted by: LA Facts | August 29, 2008 6:54 AM
Is anyone else as sick of hoyd is a joke rants?? Isn't there a way we could ban her from this blog?? She is just a cancer!!!
Posted by: SICK OF IT | August 29, 2008 6:44 AM
football jones,
Now that I read the article what part of it was impressive. The five jobs that he did list, or the one in 2006 that he didn't list.
The Pop Warner issue was explained in the article, just like I explained, a field usage issue.
The majority of the booster club, hates Hoyd.
The freshmen program lost key players due to Hoyd. As stated many times in the pass this has nothing to do with the kids liking Hoyd.
The reality of it is, this team is going to go as far as Gilmore can carry them. No Gilmore and the program goes 0-30.
Posted by: Hoyd is a Joke ......... | August 28, 2008 11:44 PM
football jones,
The issues have nothing to do with someone at HLP getting the job. No HLP coach even applied for the job.
The issues had to do with field usage.
Hoyd was upset with some of our coaches since they turned him down when he offered them the freshmen/JV jobs.
Hoyd's credentials are a joke. 6 jobs in 6 years one team he was involved with made the playoffs, one and out. He even left one of his jobs off his resume. He got the job at Wilson because everyone else turned it down. It is common knowledge that he was the only canidate left when they offered the job to him.
Posted by: Hoyd is a Joke ......... | August 28, 2008 11:24 PM
All Hoyd Haters,
Per Fred's article, it appears the 'new guy' has impressive credentials.
Did HLPPW have a MORE qualified candidate that was somehow overlooked?
Please do share....
~Football Jones
Posted by: football jones | August 28, 2008 11:15 PM
New York,
Since you don't have a clue on what is going on, I will give you the answer to that question. The varsity program always has priorty over pop warner. That being said, it has been made very clear to Hoyd stay away from Pop Warner, you Coach the High School program and have nothing to do with Pop Warner.
Posted by: HLP Parent | August 28, 2008 11:10 PM
Frosh LoSEr
Isn't it past your bedtime old man? Don't forget to drink your prune juice tonight. And if you have trouble sleeping I hear a few puffs will do the trick for you. Haha
Oh, and if you were at MY practice today you would have heard all the quick whistles, and coach G screaming to "not hit my precious QB" when we were scrimmaging. What a fricken joke.
I'm out and out till manana.
Posted by: Frosh Facts | August 28, 2008 10:09 PM
Aren't any of the parents of Wilson players concerned that the lack of support for the new coach will create a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure? So Hoyd pushed for the uniforms from the glory days? Why did they ever change? This guy played in the SEC? Seems like he can relate to athletes who go through the recruiting process.
Worried about Pop Warner resources? Which program gets priority, Varsity or Pop Warner?
Posted by: New York | August 28, 2008 9:41 PM
What happened at practice today.
All talk JackA$$!
YOUR A SAD CASE.
YA BIG DUMMY!
How are you going to bring it if you don't start?
Posted by: Frosh LoSEr | August 28, 2008 8:39 PM
Varsity Facts
It's called LUNCH dummy. Check the bell schedule. DDD
Tell me which hlp punk is yours, so I can break one off in him... Haha
Running late, gotta go biotches!
Posted by: Frosh Facts | August 28, 2008 4:00 PM
Frosh Facts,
Well If that's the truth then you should be paying more attention in class!
How the hell are you blogging at 12:20 PM.
Posted by: Frosh facts | August 28, 2008 12:20 PM
You sure are a dumb parent.
Yeah, The only time your kid is ever going to see the field, is when he is bringing water out to the kids!
Can you say WATERBOY!
Posted by: Varsity Facts | August 28, 2008 3:10 PM
Frosh facts,
All the quarterbacks are the same size on the freshmen team. So if one is short they all are, what are you talking about.
Posted by: LA Parent | August 28, 2008 2:46 PM
Varsity Facts
I am the kid Jacka$$. I'm on the team, so keep your hippie craap to yourself. It's football, it's violent, and is they ever let us go full pads scrimmage the hlp girls will be running for the sidelines.. Haha
Practice in two hours, so I gotta go eat, cause I'm a gonna slam some fresh meat...
Posted by: Frosh facts | August 28, 2008 2:30 PM
Frosh Facts,
Now, Now, Calm down. If you are so concerned with your kids playing time. That you have to be calling out kids because of there size weight or talent. That's plain wrong.
Look you have 3 more years at LA. You shouldn't be bringing this out on this blog. Coach G and Coach F are good coaches and will pick the best player that will give them the best chances to win. If you have a problem with a coach take it to them and not on this blog. You were told in orientation only the best will play. Now if your kid is not up to speed. That's the way it goes. I have a kid on Varsity and it took awhile for him to finally crack the squad. Give it time and if your kid really has what it takes you will see. But name calling is not good for the Soul.
PEACE
Posted by: Varsity Facts | August 28, 2008 2:08 PM
Los Altos (HLP) Football Parent
You can keep your hlp whiners over at Wilson. Coach G at LA won't even let "your star hlp qb" do any hitting drills, because he knows he'll get his scrawny a$$ cracked. We don't need your 5' 110# players on our team anyway. We got some major size on our team, and they make your hlps look like a cheer squad. Ha, even our water girls are bigger than your hlp runts.
Gotta run, cause here I'm done.
Posted by: Frosh facts | August 28, 2008 12:20 PM
From I was told by District Administration Hoyd has been put into check. Hoyd has been kicked off the booster club board. He has been told to stay away from Pop Warner. Basically he was told, “Go Coach”.
Posted by: Hoyd Told To Coach | August 28, 2008 8:55 AM
Fred,
Great article, I don't know much about West Covina's early football history since I've only began following them in 1999, good luck with your tab article, looking forward to it.
Posted by: Dan | August 27, 2008 7:39 PM
I never new what a monkey roll was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1kWMMFH_7A
LOL!
Posted by: Monkey Rolls | August 27, 2008 3:38 PM
Fred,
If your a real reporter talk to some of the guys at Pop Warner and the Booster Club. By the way today at 4:00 p.m. the district & school administration is meeting with Pop Warner to resolve some of thses issues that we have been reading about on the blog. Sure would have been nice if this was a surprise visit, you would have really enjoyed watching the High School practices. The kids are getting real good at monkey rows and pulling flags.
Posted by: X-Wilson Parent | August 27, 2008 2:35 PM
Fred great article. too bad this isn't what the blog is about. But that's a byproduct of time (or lack thereof), expectations and enforcement. Kind of like coaching.
Every "good" idea needs to be enforced. Every good idea can become a GREAT idea with accountability. This blog has never had any. Maybe it wasn't built that way or maybe it wasn't intended to be anything more than a link to the lowest common denominator....the Fan...short for FANATIC.
it's high school sports and if anyone thinks it's more than that I'll show you an uneducated has been or fustrated never was. By the way does anyone know what has happened to the all the superstars heralded on this blog..currently? I know one so called expert on this blog personally and the only reason he didn't suck at footall he wasn't even on the team....yet he's an expert on who's good as a coach or what a player should or shouldn't start????? Totally obscene.
The one thing I will concede though is this blog is read by coaches ON A REGULAR BASIS...and talked about second hand amongst parents...ON A REGULAR BASIS and relayed to the coaches...and as never before COACHES HOLD GRUDGES. The days of the in the stands loudmouth has become the know it all on the blog. In the stands the coaches ignored them...on the blog..well let's say the coaches are human, parents want to curry favor...and coaches being human, get their feeling hurt and are forced to respond...consciously or subconsciously.
It's to bad most blooger don't ever what an up front open face to face forum and instead relive the lowest aspects of high school life....making A$$ES of themselves.
30 years of coaching is like 30 years of marriage...you learn alot and you unlearn alot....but in the end you hope you've done more good than bad and made the world a better place.
Thanks to all my coaches...I love and respect them all. Then and now.
Posted by: Then and Now | August 27, 2008 2:30 PM
A Fan, I know, but I am going to Wilson today. The tab, our resources, it just didn't allow me as much time out of the office. I've been doing more over the phone interviews than usual, and want to save most of that information for the tab. When the Tab comes out on Tuesday, we'll post the preview stories from each league so that you can discuss it all. Then once we start playing, you'll get all the football fix you need.
Posted by: FredJ | August 27, 2008 2:08 PM
McConnel / FJR
Great article. It pins down the fundamentals that create year after year "program" success... not success that arrives solely because a school gets blessed with a one year talent load. A waning talent pool can compete..when you simplify and pound the fundamentals to such a point reaction becomes automatic and swift.
I pasted over at PSN - hope you don't mind.
Posted by: Goldenarm | August 27, 2008 12:24 PM
Fred
This blog has really gone to sleep the last week or so.
You said you were going to opening practice at Charter Oak. What! No report. You said you were going over to Wilson to see what was up there. Whats the deal with the coach? Is Gilmore a happy camper? How are things shapeing up down the street at Los Altos. Lots of buzz about North View they even brought in lights so they could practice late on their field. The Guru was at South Hills this past week. Any word from him? He's been awful quite lately.
Even the paper is quite, normally this time of the year a couple weeks out from week 1 or in same cases 0 week there are reports about different teams in the vally. And lets not forget there are other programs in the valley besides Amat, South Hills, &
Charter Oak. How about SEM, Arroyo, Rosemead, even Temple City. If its a time thing I'm sure everyone understands but if its an economics issue, how about going after some of these young jounalism majors and hire them as interns. Come on Fred... I'm going through withdrawls. I need my football fix. And yes I'm still a paid subscriber
Posted by: A Fan | August 27, 2008 9:47 AM
BIG BAD WOLF,
You are clueless on a few of your comments, look at Los Altos the jr. all american team that plays at LA is one of the two weakest jr. all american teams in the valley. The talent at LA over the last three years has come from HLP the Pop Warner league that was playing at LA and is now playing at Wilson. The current starting offense at LA has one junior all american kid and six HLP Pop Warner kids on it. So where is the talent coming from???????????
By the way Don stop talking trash on this blog about our coaches, they aren’t on the blog. As you can see by the state of your freshmen team these coaches do influence parents and the kids in this community. You are going to find that out the hard way, being that your freshmen team is going to get lit up this year.
Keep talking the trash about the hand that feeds you and see how much talent shows up at your door next year. As of about 1 hour ago, you lost five of the top six players in the area. Now you’re doing a great job on next year. I will tell you this much, LA is loving it. They have almost 80 kids on the freshmen team, more than your whole program.
Once again I would like to thank all you, for the great recruiting job you did for LA this year.
Posted by: Los Altos (HLP) Football Parent | August 27, 2008 9:17 AM
HELLO YES A GOOD JR ALL AMERICAN PROGRAM DOES HELP THE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM. AND THE COACHES AT THAT LEVEL DO HAVE INFLUENCE OVER THE KIDS AND PARENTS AS TO WHERE THEY SEND THERE KIDS. HOW DO U THINK LOS ALTOS HAS SO MANY KIDS WHO DONT LIVE IN THE DISTRICT. AND JR ALL AMERICAN IS THE TOP ORGANIZATION IN THE SGV. POP WARNER DOESNT EXIST OUT HERE. THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS HAVE THE BEST JR ALL AMERICAN PROGRAMS IN THEIR CITY'S. A HIGH SCHOOL COACH NEEDS TO REALIZE THAT. I HAVE COACHED AT BOTH LEVELS. AND AS A HIGH SCHOOL COACH U DO WHAT U CAN TO SUPPORT UR LOCAL JR ALL AMERICAN TEAM AND IT INTICES THE KIDS AND THEIR PERENTS TO STAY IN THE CITY.
Posted by: BIG BAD WOLF | August 27, 2008 8:47 AM
MR. Madre,
Yes, We know Popwarner is the largest football program in the country.
Hoyd got the job because he had all his credentials together.
Now he might not be the right guy in your eyes! but he filled all the requirements needed.
I think this is all about somebody not getting a chance to coach at Wilson.
Ask yourself why!
I'll tell you! You are not qualified period! If you would of had a degree things might of been different. Except you and your people have to talk smack on this blog.
Look at your kiddie program and ask yourself can anyone of my coaches qualify to HEAD coach at the highschool Varsity level.
The answer "No!"
Get a Degree and some manners!
Who's the Pendejo now!!!
Posted by: Wildcat | August 27, 2008 8:46 AM
WTH,
Thank you for demonstrating what the boosters at Wilson are all about.
Posted by: rod w. | August 27, 2008 7:16 AM
As far as feeder programs go, WTH is right. HLP's Jr. Midget Wildcat team had their top six players going to Wilson this year. Hoyd took over the program at Wilson, started up all this crap with HLP. He got one of them. Three of the kids are starters at LA and the other two went to HLP's Midget program. Hoyd got one of the running backs. LA got the quarterback and two running backs all starters. HLP Midget team got one running back and one wide receiver all starters. That is how important your feeder program is.
Posted by: Los Altos (HLP) Football Parent | August 27, 2008 7:15 AM
Wilcat pendeho,
This little kiddie is largest football program in area period. Pop Warner is largest football program in the country period, that includes Colleges,High Schools Pros ETC. The best players that ever played football came thru pop Warner.
Tu Madre way. besa me culo
Posted by: WTH | August 27, 2008 1:58 AM
This one goes out to the HEAD MORON THAT THINKS he Controls Highschool ball.
You (HLP) are not a feeder program so let's get that straight. Kids in the community do benefit from getting introduce to football at a early age. But to say that one particular Kiddie program is going to control what school a kid attends is plain stupid.
Yes, I can see it now.
Parent's I (MORON) Decree that the kids in HLP shall go to Workman highschool.
YES, that will be the school we will feed this year.
Feeders march to Workman! I command you!
Hehehe!!!
You guys are getting what you deserve!!
Who sounds like a Jack A$$ NOW!!!
Posted by: Wildcat | August 27, 2008 12:27 AM
Rod W, Stop hiding Coach Hoyd
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Posted by: WTH | August 26, 2008 11:57 PM
WTH,
I'm interested in the team. What can the booster club do to help me to learn more about the team or ask questions?
Posted by: rod w. | August 26, 2008 10:01 PM
Wildcat,
Great Coaches know it is important to support your local community youth sports. Read the blog jackas?
programs example:
"West Covina also had a huge and wildly popular Jr American football program in those years with good coaches that fed WC, South Hills, and Edgewood with ready to go recruits, resulting in titanic cross town battles for supremacy. Mal made getting and wearing the blue helmet an honor
Posted by: WTH | August 26, 2008 9:03 PM
rod w.,
The purpose of the boosters is not just to raise funds but more important give anyone who is interested in the team a chance to learn more about it and to have the chance to ask questions. That helped build a fan base for the team.
Posted by: WTH | August 26, 2008 9:00 PM
WTH, Clueless and Don Get a Job: Once again the same UGLY Person!!!!!! Please for the love of god shut the hell up!! Every post Don has made has been intelligent and made sense! I am sorry that your panties are in a bunch, but it is not our fault that you are a miserable soul, so please give us a break and shut the hell up.
Posted by: PLEASE SHUT UP | August 26, 2008 8:35 PM
Don,
I loved your post!!
Posted by: wildcat mom | August 26, 2008 8:20 PM
Clueless,
HLP a feeder Program?
Are u Joking? Kids are going to go to a highschool. Either it be Amat, LA, Workman, Wilson.
You guys are not part of highschool at all.
Don't kis youselves thinking you have control over any kids future in highschool or where they might end up.
FEEDER PROGRAMS!!!!
HAHAHA
MORONS!!
Posted by: Wildcat | August 26, 2008 7:52 PM
This subject could not come at a better time. I have coached in the valley and in the OC. My experience has been that the successful programs have all of the ingredients, strong supportive administration, strong, supportive booster club or even booster parents and fans and most importantly coaches that want to run a strong, learning environment for the student/athletes. All of these kids start the same, they have to learn to walk, run, eat and even sleep just like all children. It becomes the formative years when they are in 5th, 6th, 7th grade and up that the real formative years begin. Some parents spend thousands of dollars on there "kids" sports/athletic training. It has become a huge business and every ex-athlete, coach, trainer out there is jumping on the training band wagon. Where does that leave the low paid usually young coach who does it as much for the love of the sport or the opportunity to have a successful program that the local community embraces/ It depends where you live. If you are in Brea or Mission Viejo or even Upland or La Verne you are in luck because you are being supported by the community in large. If you are in Diamond Bar or Hacienda Heights or Walnut oh well, you better like tennis, badminton or golf because the community will not be there to support you. then you have the administrations in these areas that are happy with the academic achievements, as they should be, but athletics takes a back seat because the schools are known for academics now not athletics. I gave up unfortunately due to bad administrations that no longer appreciate the efforts of the student/athlete population. Watch as Diamond Bar and Rowland enjoy there brand new fields but can't put a competitive product on the field. The days of Jim Edmonds and Keith Van Horn are gone and won't be back. Fight on Student/Athletes don't let the academics take over even if the administration gives up on you!
Posted by: cudithappenhere | August 26, 2008 6:55 PM
WTH,
Perhaps it is you who should read more carefully. I am trying to understand. This is an honest question: what is the purpose of the booster club at Wilson?
Posted by: rod w. | August 26, 2008 4:24 PM
Don & Ron W,
learn to read. The Thread is talking about what great coaches did to make succesfull programs
Booster Purpose:
"You can't get stuck in the past," Eaton said. "You need to expose yourself to new ideas. Two of the best I came across early on at West Covina I got from the Anaheim High program, which was one of the premier programs of the 1950s.
"At Anaheim, they were using weightlifting and bodybuilding techniques long before most schools, and I liked the idea so I got a guy from Universal Gyms on campus and installed a weight room. I believe we were the first school in the Valley to have one.
"Another thing they were doing at Anaheim was a booster program. Again, I liked the concept so I brought it on board at West Covina. Now, I didn't use it as a fundraiser. I used it to give anyone who was interested in the team a chance to learn more about it and to have the chance to ask me questions. That helped build a fan base for us."
Youth Sports:
"WC also had a huge and wildly popular Jr American football program in those years with good coaches that fed WC, South Hills, and Edgewood with ready to go recruits, resulting in titanic cross town battles for supremacy. Mal made getting and wearing the blue helmet an honor."
Posted by: WTH | August 26, 2008 4:07 PM
Don,
Why don't you just use one screen name it is getting old. Same wording, we aren't stupid.
Posted by: Don get a life | August 26, 2008 3:55 PM
Don & Once upon a time...
What are you talking about; your lack of knowledge in reference to the Wilson Pop Warner issue is crazy. You are talking out of your a@@.
The issue has to do with using the stadiums for the home games. Hoyd told Pop Warner use the practice field or nothing for you home games.
Those coaches you are talking about were offered a job by Hoyd. Hoyd offered them the freshmen or the JV job. They choice not to take either job, that is why Hoyd is pissed off at them.
Now why is Hoyd, who is trying to build a program, destroying the relationship with the feeder program for his school? Does that sound like a sound Head Coach? Why is it that the other local high school practices in the stadium and has the other local youth football play all their home games in the stadium, but Hoyd is attempting to keep HLP out of Wilson’s stadium?
Posted by: Clueless | August 26, 2008 3:52 PM
Coaching now a days is TOUGH , I have much respect for all styles .Not ONE style is the right way , you have to be flexible & know how to get through to each & every player . The days of coaching with an iron fist.. well sad to say are OVER ! Players DO NOT respond to that on ANY LEVEL!
Fight On
TM
Posted by: Trojan Man | August 26, 2008 3:04 PM
Don,
Once again...well said!
It sounds like once upon a time, the Wilson new head coach, coached a team that played against a local HLP team and became rivals. Now this same coach is the head coach of a high school that is used by the local HLP football league and has the ultimate word about certain things that directly affect their league. In addition, this new head coach brought his own coaching staff and got rid of the local HLP coaches who were involved with helping the previous head coach and his football program. Bottom line...The football program at Wilson High School now belongs to this new Head Coach! Let him do his job for the sake of the kids! If the local HLP football league does not like what he is doing...go somewhere else!
Posted by: Once upon a time... | August 26, 2008 2:55 PM
Read the opening sentence in WTH's post. This Wilson thing has always been about the local kiddie league oligarchy feeling left behind. It's sad, in a way, when adults feel that graduating from the local Pop Warner BOD to the HS Booster Club entitles them to some say in the running of the team. You people need to get on with your lives. The selection of a Coach at Wilson is what it is and he hasn't done anything any number of other HS Coaches throughout the country do.
This same type of kiddie ball baloney dogs coaches everywhere and oddly, no one ever says, “well, it's really about me no longer being in a position of power” , it's “always about the kids” no matter how negative it gets. The local youth sports program, LL, Pony, PWF, AYSO, whatever, should have no more to do with the local HS team than the Coach wants it to.
Posted by: Don | August 26, 2008 2:30 PM
The man speaks some important truths.
A strong and effective high school head coach has to walk the same line a strong and effective CEO must walk. Neither can accomplish anything on their own and both must find ways to garner support for their initiatives. They both must find the strengths in the people they work with and seek ways to bring those strengths to the forefront. Each must be able to make sound decisions and in doing so, mitigate any hurt feelings that may result from those decisions.
Each needs to utilize resources, empower others,know when to delegate and know that ultimately, they wil be held accountable.
Simply being the "nice guy" all the time and allowing everyone to run with every idea that might pop into someones head is a formula for disaster. Both must be able to read people and to demand from them more than they believe they actually possess.
Leadership, a willingness to listen, consider, determine and take action are pre-requisites for each position. There is a place for diplomacy, a place for tact and an understanding that each represent an orgainzation a great many people care about and an equally great number of people would be happy to see either fail.
I'll get off my soapbox for awhile!
Posted by: Conq76 | August 26, 2008 2:26 PM
FRED YOU SHOULD START PUTTING UP SOME OF THE PHOTOS OF THE KIDS THAT YOU SUPOSEDLY TOOK PICTURES OF. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COMPETITION OF THE OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE VALLEY SO PLEASE DO THAT.Thanks.
Posted by: GET ON IT! | August 26, 2008 2:20 PM
WTH,
What is the function of the booster club at Wilson?
Posted by: rod w. | August 26, 2008 1:58 PM
Wilson Backer,
Coach O from Wilson attempted to re-connect with community by supporting the Local Pop Warner last year. He had some of there coaching staff, coach his freshman team and support Varsity. They took a freshman team from 1-9 to 7-3. The wrench was that Coach O decided to spend more time with his family and quit.
The next stumble was the administration. They decided to hire a coach with no!! Head Coaching experience.
Then Coach Hoyd decided to use the booster program as a fundraiser.
("I used it to give anyone who was interested in the team a chance to learn more about it and to have the chance to ask me questions. That helped build a fan base for us").
He also recently decided to shun the local community .
In order to fix the problem in Wilson you need to clean house by first placing an administrator who cares about the community then remove the Coach.
Posted by: WTH | August 26, 2008 1:13 PM
WC also had a huge and wildly popular Jr American football program in those years with good coaches that fed WC, South Hills, and Edgewood with ready to go recruits, resulting in titanic cross town battles for supremacy. Mal made getting and wearing the blue helmet an honor.
Posted by: autofill | August 26, 2008 11:59 AM
Good Article...
I wish Wilson could get support like that!
Not even out of the gate and turmoil!
Posted by: Wilson Backer | August 26, 2008 9:23 AM
what a great article! i love the fact that mal still has it going on after all these years. health, happiness and long life to you my friend and coach... i played 2 great years under coach eaton and his side kick coack ralph craig, my coach. what a great couple of guys. they even created an award at the end of my sophmore year, the "hang loose" award, just for me. has anyone ever seen/read coach eatons book? it's great, all those motavational one liner's that i'll never forget
Posted by: mrlippy | August 26, 2008 9:19 AM
Back to basics ?
Posted by: Redryder-Blue | August 26, 2008 9:08 AM
Great article! Well done!
Posted by: sevenduece | August 26, 2008 9:07 AM