Whittier picks 1990 grad/ex-player Mata

Having worked 11 years in security at Whittier High School and being a
1990 graduate and former Cardinal basketball player, Joey Mata is
familiar with, so to speak, the lay of the land.

Recently named the school’s boys basketball head coach, Mata is
replacing Michael Varos, who resigned as both head coach and athletic
director.

“It will be hard filling Mike’s shoes,” Mata said. “He’s a very good
coach.”

Acknowledging the job ahead, Mata is quick to list his No. 1
priority.

“It’s about the players buying into the program and accepting me as
the coach,” Mata said. “The boys know what they want. I hope to keep
much of that going, and keeping the intensity they’ve had.

“Mike and I have two different styles of coaching. He’s very intense,
I’m more laid back.”

Mata was Pioneer’s head coach for eight seasons, posting a 93-125
record. His best year was 2006 when the Titans were 17-11 and finished
second in the Del Rio League.

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Josh Quezada …. and the beat goes on

La Habra’s fine running back continues to draw interest from major universities.
Coach Frank Mazzotta called to say Stanford and Washington offered scholarships today. BYU, Hawaii , New Mexico and Fresno State had offered previously. And Arizona State was on campus Monday and Arizona was on campus today.Once one or two Pac-10 schools offer, the interest from the other conference members picks up.

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Cantwell’s Smolin to take head football job at newcomer Redlands Citrus Valley High School

Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High School athletic director and head football coach Pete Smolin confirmed late Friday evening he is leaving the school to become the head football coach at the new Citrus Valley High School in Redlands.
Kim Taylor, the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator, will replace Smolin as head coach.
Assistant athletic director Omar Villalta will move into the athletic director’s role.
“It will be a smooth transition period,” Smolin said. “Everything, everyone is already in place. The (coaching) staff will remain intact.”
Smolin said Citrus Valley will be the third high school school in the Redlands School District and will have an enrollment of about 1,500 students made up of freshmen and sophomores the first year, building to “about 3,000.”
“We’ll play a freelance schedule to start with,” Smolin said, “and eventually we’ll be in Division II (Inland Division).”

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