By Fred J. Robledo
South Hills struck gold on Friday, naming Matt Bechtel as its next football coach, replacing Albert Rodriguez, who resigned a week ago, but will likely remain on staff as one of Bechtel’s assistants.
Bechtel’s a splashy hire for a school with South Hills’ football tradition. The Huskies won four CIF titles in the early 2000s under then-coach Steve Bogan.
Bechtel resigned at Chino Hills earlier this month after leading the Huskies to the Baseline league title and finishing 10-3 overall. Chino Hills advanced to the CIF-SS West Valley Division semifinals before losing to top-seed and eventual champion Mission Viejo.
South Hills principal Dr. Matt Dalton introduced Bechtel to the players Friday.
“We believe Matt Bechtel is the perfect fit for South Hills,” Dalton said. “Matt has a track record of success as a head coach and we are extremely excited to have him leading us into the future of South Hills Football.”
Bechtel said he is embracing South Hills’ tradition and the challenge.
“I feel excited and blessed at the opportunity to lead the football program at South Hills,” Bechtel said. “The confidence and the support that I felt through this interview process along with the vision that this administration team has for the football program but also for the school as a whole is the best I’ve seen in my 20 year career. I am fully aware of the rich and successful history that South Hills has had, and my staff and I are going to work as hard as we can to bring that back.”
The Baseline league title was somewhat of a surprise beating top contenders Upland and Rancho Cucamonga, especially for a Chino Hills team that didn’t boast a player with a Division I college offer.
Bechtel arrived at Chino Hills as offensive coordinator under then-coach Derek Bub in 2012 and was elevated to head coach when Bub resigned the following season.
Bechtel’s teams were 25-10 the last three years. The Huskies were second in the Baseline League in 2014, their first after moving over from the then-Sierra League.
Bechtel was previously head coach at Colony in 2010 and 2011. His Titans teams were a combined 18-6 with a Mt. Baldy League title in 2011 and a second-place finish in 2010.
Why Bechtel left Chino Hills after so much success is a bit of a mystery, though there were rumors that he didn’t see eye-to-eye with some in the administration.
After resigning, Chino Hills athletic director Phil Garcia didn’t offer much of an explanation.
“We’re definitely sorry to see him go,” Garcia said. “He did a great job here and we’re thankful for all he contributed. We’re proceeding. If he was going to step down, it is good it came now. It gives us plenty of time.”
Rodriguez led the Huskies to the Palomares league title in 2014, but this past season the Huskies finished 4-7, losing to undefeated Summit in the first round of the playoffs.
— Michelle Gardner contributed to this story.
