Who's going to win coach of the year?
Off-season R&R: I always thought coach Steve Bogan was a cool cat. Amazing what you can find on a google search.
It's to early to call, but the candidates are starting to emerge ...
Rob Castaneda, Western Christian -- In his first year, the former St. Paul assistant has turned a 3-7 pushover into an undefeated lower-level heavyweight. The Lancers are young, talented, and 4-0. And don't say anything bad about the Christian League, which has a combined record of 14-0.
Steve Hagerty, Bishop Amat -- The Lancers (3-1) already have matched last year's win total, and let's face it, you should get bonus points for taking over the toughest job in the Valley, and turning the corner in your first season. What happens at the end of the year will determine if he's still in the race.
Bill Zernickow, San Dimas -- Some might argue this is Zernickow's to lose. The Saints have the best chance of running the table, going 14-0 and winning the Mid-Valley Division title. Even if they lose a game along the way and still won the championship, what Zernickow's done the past two years at San Dimas is mighty impressive.
Mike O'Shields, Walnut -- For a school that was 1-9 last year and 6-24 the past three seasons, starting 2-1 means a lot. This is a young team that might be a year away from really causing damage, but no doubt the Mustangs' start is a huge surprise.
Azusa, Joe Scherf -- Despite last week's loss, the Aztecs still have a good chance of going 9-1 before the playoffs, which is dramatic considering they haven't had a winning season this decade. But for Scherf to win it, the Aztecs will have to pass a couple Mid-Valley playoff tests.
Craig Snyder, Rowland -- Like Walnut, a solid 2-1 start with an early upset win over Northview. There's a good chance they win the rest of their non-league games, so how they do against West Covina and South Hills will go a long way in keeping Snyder in the hunt.
Mike Maggiore, West Covina -- I have a sneaky feeling that when the regular season is finished, the Bulldogs might be second or third in our poll. The only game they might lose is South Hills, but I'll tell you what, if that game was on Friday, I'd pick the Bulldogs to take back Cameron Ave.
Steve Bogan, South Hills; Lou Farrar, Charter Oak -- This goes without saying. Whenever you have a team that annually competes for a divisional title, coach of the year awards come along with it. If they're on opposite sides of the Southeastern bracket come playoff time, I'm riding them all the way to the finals.
Comments
Coach Rob Castaneda must be Coach Hoyd (Wilson) cousin. I still think he is a great snack shack person it should count for something. Coach Hoyd for Vice president not for this country but maybe Cuba.
Posted by: wth | October 1, 2008 3:18 PM
On Rob Castaneda you guys are giving this guy too much credit, First of all he has told people that he has won 3 CIF championships wich is a lie heas one at St.Paul and he was not even an OC he worked with QB's & Receivers, second of all he is telling people that he coached at Bishop Amat, Los Altos , and LA High (City section) he has never coached at any of those place excluding St. Paul. This man claims to be a Christian and is very hyprocritical and I will just leave it at that.
Posted by: On Looker | October 1, 2008 12:43 PM
Castaneda without a doubt. Western was actually 0-10 last year and they are now 4-0 for the first time in school history. Additionally they are racking up about 200 rushing yards per game. That kind of turn around? THAT my friends is amazing.
I dont think its too early to name favorites, but to the skeptical i say keep watching for a few more weeks. Lets see what happens when they play the #1 small school in the state St. Margarets (coached by D1 state champ harry welch). And later in the season the Western and Aquinas game should have some interesting implications being that Aquinas, an itty-bitty christian school, SMASHED on Azusa and took that QB out in the first half.
Building on tradition is great. Creating one is even greater.
Posted by: Western Watcher | September 30, 2008 11:59 PM
It has to be Hagerty or Zernickow. Hagerty has turned around a D1 program and has them going in the right direction playing some pretty tough competition.
Zernickow on the other hand has his team really playing, yes they have not played the toughest teams but the teams they have played are respectable and they are killing them.
Castaneda has done a good job turning the program around as has Scherf but who have each of them played. Western has beat up on two Montview League Schools WOW and some weaker D13 schools!! and the only Team Scherf has played whipped them. Yes the first three victories they played were against a group of guys not teams. They were more like flag football teams or intramural teams.
I would say it is too early to call you have to see how the season plays out but just because a team has 2 or 3 wins already you can not claim they have the coach of the year! It is a long season!! Still 11 weeks left before you can throw out the coach of the year award!!
Posted by: SGV FOOTBALL FOLLOWER | September 30, 2008 8:07 PM
Maybe this would be more appropriate posted here...
Flashback a month or so for some laughs....
"...Why is it that you S.G. fans have such issues with self assured head coaches. ("Wardell Crutchfield School of Media Relations") Wardell Crutchfield is the best coach in the S G Valley, by far. He regularly plays with a varsity team with less than fifty players and does not recruit players from outside his area like so many other coaches do today..."
Posted by: DENA BOY | August 20, 2008 12:28 PM
I don't think DENA BOY has been back from the West Side after the lashing he took for that one.
Posted by: Joe Amat | September 30, 2008 11:00 AM
I think that's why Fred wrote,
"..It's to early to call, but the candidates are starting to emerge ..."
Does ANYBODY read anymore?
Posted by: Joe Amat | September 30, 2008 10:41 AM
WAY TO EARLY TO CROWN ANYBODY.
LETS LOOK AT IT IN NOVEMBER!
Posted by: TOO EARLY | September 30, 2008 9:42 AM
Without a doubt Coach Scherf! His play calling has been phenomenal! And his coaching methods are what AZUSA has been lacking for years.
A good coach always keeps the opposing teams guessing, by mixing up the offense and defensive plays, and so far he has done that!
Most people are saying, look who they've played. Well guess what! Last year AZUSA lost to Montview High School, in a game they should have won!
This year AZUSA is up 40 to 7 by halftime! Their first lost wasn't a blowout like everyone predicted, a matter of fact, AZUSA had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter. And AQUINAS has a pretty good good football team!
The season is still young, and league starts this week. They play the MONTVIEW LEAGUE CHAMPS this Friday, who they also lost to last year, a game AZUSA should have won! So will have to see what happens ???
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK COACH! AND THANKS FOR PUTTING US ON THE MAP!
AZTEC PRIDE!
Posted by: AZTEC PRIDE | September 30, 2008 9:29 AM
This is not Fair what about coach Hoyd at Wilson? He's doing a great job, not at coaching but his snack shack is smoking hot.
Posted by: EVV | September 30, 2008 9:13 AM
Like some on this blog, I would love to see Coach Zernikow receive this award. However, considering the pressure cooker that Amat seems to be year in and year out, you really can't understate what Coach Hagerty has accomplished thus far. He's in a high pressure job with a team that expects to win. While Zernikow has really turned the San Dimas program around, Hagerty has started to re-establish some tradition at a program that requires tradition builders! Also, Coach Fleming at Ganesha has got his kids believing in themselves again. This seems like a simple task, but given Ganesha's history (so many losses), he really stemmed a steady tide. So there are my top three...
1.) Hagerty
2.) Zernikow
3.) Fleming
All good men doing good work. One other thing I would like to point out about Coach Zernikow. My son played his senior year for Coach Zernikow and still talks about him with great favor. While this might not be the best forum for it, I think it is worthy of mentioning the fact that Coach Zernikow is a devoute Chirstian man. He doesn't believe (nor do I) that stuffing religion down someone's throat is ever a good thing, but he always sets a tremendous example for the young men that are around him. His values are second to none and watching him when he's around his own family always made me smile. He's a gentleman that anyone would be proud to call friend and young football players are lucky to call coach. A fine human being indeed!
Posted by: Just Wondering | September 30, 2008 7:00 AM
I do believe that Ganesha's David Fleming does deserve to be highly considered for the coach of the year along with Hag's.
Another thing. It's so funny how we go all so fired up over the rankings stuff here recently, but if you happened to notice, the LA Times had placed Amat at number 14 (moving them down one spot) and the KCAL 9’s high school blogg had us currently at number 4. Interesting eh...
Posted by: jcaz | September 30, 2008 5:08 AM
Great pic of Bogan but where the hell is the photo of Farrar riding horse back or Gano sky diving? Too funny
I think a great article for the newspaper would be what do the local coaches do for fun in the off season. Would give more insight into person behind the headset.
Posted by: King Stud | September 29, 2008 11:00 PM
Football Jones,
Your righttt
Posted by: Rightous | September 29, 2008 10:47 PM
Fred J,
This one is easy...Ganesha's David Fleming.
He's done something NO ONE has been able to do in six years at that school...win a football game!
He got those kids to believe in themselves.
That's a monumental accomplishment.
Posted by: football jones | September 29, 2008 10:01 PM
by the end of the season coach eric podley wil be on this list when he coaches them to a 4-0 league schedule and a CIF CHAMPIONSHIP I really think this is a team good enough to do that when they put it all together
Posted by: bearcat fan | September 29, 2008 9:25 PM
Servite coach is not smith... coach thomas... before him was toner
Posted by: PTI | September 29, 2008 8:36 PM
401K -502DUI,Everyone needs a coach at some point! Right wrong or indifferent,The right Coach will always make a difference!! Think before you vote.
Posted by: Redryder-Blue | September 29, 2008 8:10 PM
I must say I really like where Bishop Amat is headed and I think Hagerty has done a fine job. With that I think Hagerty should be coach of the year even if Amat only finishes at least 7-3 with a playoff birth. He had to rebuild a team from the ground up and he brought along one of the finest coaching staff Southern California has ever seen to help him. I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of the top head coaches in Southern California such as coach Rolinson of Mater Dei, and Coach Smith from Servite, etc. etc, but there is just something about Hagerty and Amat. A genuine guy who believes the best will play regardless of age or background along with the tradition Amat used to have and how he wants to bring that back…what parent wouldn’t want their kid to be apart of that. My nephew played at Long Beach Poly and at USC as a running back and would love my twins to go play at Poly. But a great education, mixed with safety, tradition, and a return to glory team…The Dennis twins will be at Amat next year as freshman. To all the parents with incoming freshman who have kids who love an education plus a football tradition…come to Amat….CIF champions 2012. I’ve been reading these blogs the last month or so, and I like how Amat has that love and hate relationship with the other sgv bloggers and schools. That’s when you know the difference between a high school football team and a High School Football Team.
Posted by: Dennis@Amat | September 29, 2008 7:02 PM
For as much as Id like to see Coach Z win Id have to say right now its Coach Hagerty.
Posted by: SD John | September 29, 2008 5:24 PM
fred, I think you have that picture on your wall in your office of bogan.Trojans stick together.
Posted by: Knowledge | September 29, 2008 4:59 PM
My two sons attended Bishop Amat's Summer youth football camp.
Steve Hagerty is a good man!.... and he has a VERY GOOD STAFF!!!
Nice to see TWO former Edgewoood H.S. students (Maggiore and Bogan) on your list!!!!!
Posted by: Edgewood Fan | September 29, 2008 4:36 PM
That's a good list of coaches that deserve the honor. What about wild cards? I know its a long shot but with the way the Montview league is shaping up this year Workman has a pretty good chance of running the field until they meet up with Azusa the last game of the season. Although alot has to go workmans way to see this, after a 2-7 season last year Fred De Lilio should at least get honorable mention.
Posted by: Non biased | September 29, 2008 4:29 PM