2016: Coaches’ Revolving Door: 19 Changes

At least 19 schools in the San Diego Section changed football coaches this season and probably that many reasons could be offered for this arguably massive turnover.

In no particular order, a few possible explanations::

— Pressure to win
— Long hours and low stipend pay
— Player eligibility
— Transfer headaches
— Meddling administrators
— Meddling parents
— Medical liability

There are other factors, not the least of which is the continued growth of soccer, which is contested at the same time on the school calendar and has grown in popularity while football has been battling an image problem.

Many parents think the game is too dangerous.

But 98 schools submitted schedules and practice got  underway this week in anticipation of the first weekend of games Aug. 26-27.

My preseason Top 10, based on no  knowledge, other than I’ve heard Cathedral “is loaded”, Helix is Helix (speed, depth), that Rancho Bernardo deserves cred after winning a state championship (III-A) in 2015, and so on.

Keep an eye also on Mater Dei, which won the state V-AA division last season, and returns C.J. Verdell, who scored 204 points  and recently announced he’s going to join former Imperial great Royce Freeman at Oregon.

Rank School 2015 Key Nonleague 2015
1. Cathedral 7-5 Modesto Central Catholic @Mission Viejo 16-0
2. Helix 11-2 Concord Clayton Valley @Mission Viejo 13-2
3. Rancho Bernardo 13-2 El Camino 7-6
4. St. Augustine 10-3 @L.A. Loyola 9-3
5. Mission Hills 11-1 Rancho Bernardo 13-2
6. Madison 8-3 @Murrieta Vista Murrieta 12-2
7. Bonita Vista 12-3 @Helix 13-2
8. Mater Dei 14-1 @L.A. Hawkins 8-1-1
9. Eastlake 5-6 Lake Forest El Toro 5-6
10. La Costa Canyon 7-4 Whittier La Serna 11-3

Of the 19 coaching switches, 3 resulted only in change of address.  Jerry Ralph moved from Hoover to El Camino, Tim White from Julian to Borrego Springs, and Kyle Williams from Fallbrook to Westview.

School New Previous 2015
Borrego Springs Tim White Andy Macuga 4-5
Calexico John Tyree Sean Johnson 0-10
C.C. San Diego Dr. David Riley Gene Rheam 9-2
Eastlake Dean Tropp Lee Price 5-6
El Camino Jerry Ralph John Roberts 7-6
Escondido Jud Bordman Steve Bridges 1-10
Fallbrook Bob Burt Kyle Williams 7-5
Foothills Christian Joe Mackey Ron Lyyjoki 5-4
Francis Parker Darius Pickett D.J. Walcott 2-8
Helix Robbie Owens Troy Starr 11-2
Hilltop Clay Westling Cody Roelof 5-6
Hoover Jimmy Morgans Jerry Ralph 2-8
Julian Scott Munson Tim White 2-8
La Jolla Matt Morrison Jason Carter 3-8
Montgomery Sanjevi Sabbiah Ted Jarumayan 2-8
Rancho Buena Vista Joe Meyer Paul Gomes 1-9
Serra Dru Smith Sergio Diaz 1-9
Vista Dave Bottom Dan Williams 4-7
Westview Kyle Williams Mike Woodward 8-4