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Garces Coach Steps Down

Started by CoachSki, February 02, 2012, 05:15:28 PM

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CoachSki

My son called me from school today to advise that our beloved Coach John Roberts has decided to step down after two very successful seasons.  No reason was given--just said that he would miss all of the kids.  I had heard rumors that Coach may step down after the season due to health problems, but I did not get the impression that this decision was HIS choice.  I do not want to start making baseless accusations against anyone and I will reserve further comment until more information becomes available.  However, as far as I am concerned, there should be no need to look further for a replacement beyond the coaches we already have on staff.  If my two cents and my son's and ward's tuition money mean anything, I hope they will maintain stability in this program.

Coach Hurd

That's to bad Coach, maybe this will be handled better than many we have seen lately.

CoachSki

I truly hope so.  This team is so close to a VC it's amazing.

BHS_Alumni

John Roberts is a class act.  Good luck.  Have a great retirement.  You deserve it.

In the Bak Californian reading between the lines it sounded like there may be something else that made Coach call it a career.  Maples was already interviewing.

Garces......please take a look to the north towards DLS and see what a truly significant coach can do for your program.  You have the money but you still allow "The Names" at Garces to run the program and the school.  The alumni that care about the football program, and the school, understand the need for an independent coach with no ties the "The Names".

Good luck on hiring a good coach that can lead the Rams into the future.

"Mr. President.  You don't pick winners and losers.  You pick LOSERS." Mitt Romney, October 3, 2012

CoachSki

It would be great to think that the search for the next HS coach is equivalent to the search at the college or pro level.  It's not.  There is no "Coaching Tree" standing at the KHSD facility.  With the meager to non-existent pay, the long hours, the political hassles, trying to find a quality HS football coach is a very difficult task.  Most of our good young coaches over the last few years in this town have either moved on to administration or have moved up to coach at a higher level.  Comparing any program to DLS is unrealistic and unfair for a variety of reasons.  Ladaceur at DLS has a lifetime commitment to that school that few other coaches in this State have to their program.  I think private schools do have it easier than public schools in terms of building long term stability.  Yet, I just don't see that many quality young coaches out there on the streets that would not have a huge learning curve.  Garces is a team that has gone 9-1 two years straight, made it to the Semi's and VC finals.  IMO, this is not a team that should be starting over from square one with an entirely new staff and system.

izne1home

#5
Quote from: CoachSki on February 03, 2012, 08:28:33 AM
Garces is a team that has gone 9-1 two years straight, made it to the Semi's and VC finals.  IMO, this is not a team that should be starting over from square one with an entirely new staff and system.

Deja vu all over again.  Sounds like the predicament CW was in after Hartigan stepped down in 2007.  State ranked team coming back with an incredibly strong staff in place. 

Irisheyes

As I have have said on this site before this has been in the works for a while coach Roberts stepping down on his terms, and handing it over to Maples and DT.. which is what everyone wants

The wrench is the Admin or one person wants to do outside interviews for the job !!! The best guys are already there!!!!

CoachSki

You are correct Irish.  That is why this situation is so frustrating.  What is to gain by this process of holding outside interviews?  Is this a vote of confidence for the current staff?  I think not.  Then, consider the effect on those who interview for the job and get passed over.  They will naturally think the who process was a token gesture.  I have heard rumors of one particular coach who has applied, who I respect very much.  He was passed over three years ago when Garces hired Roberts.  Do you think he would ever apply again if he is passed over a second time?  Let's also not forget about the effect on the kids!  This morning, half the team showed for the first day of weight training.  No coaches showed, presumably because they are in limbo right now.  This whole situation can become a mess very quickly.  What's worse, this dilemma is totally unnecessary.

TeddyKGB

Unfortunately Irish, what everyone wants doesn't matter its what the "powers" in charge want that will take place.
I would have a problem with this also Ski, if the admin already knows who they want as the next coach then approach him and offer him the job. Don't waste others time with token interviews. It's not fair to those that "interview" and  it's not fair to the kids. As for having people interview I'm OK with that, if the admin truly is after the best possible candidate a guy thats competitive should OK with going against the best to get the job. I'm not sure I'd want a guy leading my team that expects anything handed to him.

CoachSki

I'm not suggesting that Maples had any expectations, but as Irish pointed out in his post, there were rumors about this transition all last season.  It was even mentioned during the playoffs.  Many people claimed last season that Maples was the de facto coach, and that Roberts was more of a figurehead.  I cant say i agree with that claim, but i can verify that Roberts took a very hands off approach last season, allowing his coordinators great latitude.  So, my question is:  why go through the interview process if the plan all along was to pass the torch to Maples?  Here is the bottom line.  Maples and his staff has gone 21-4 in two years, making the VC in year two, and coming within a two point conversion of possibly winning the whole ball of wax.  The kids love these coaches and will run through brick walls for him.  Who are you going to hire that is an upgrade from what you got?  Unless they could coax Golla away from BHS (about as likely as hell freezing over), then stick with what you got!

BHS_Alumni

Quote from: CoachSki on February 06, 2012, 11:10:25 AM
Who are you going to hire that is an upgrade from what you got?  Unless they could coax Golla away from BHS (about as likely as hell freezing over), then stick with what you got!

Golla wouldn't put up with all the "Names" at Garces trying to tell him how to coach and to play their kids.  Until Garces gets the "Names" out of the decision process and let real football people choose their next coach it's the same old story.

I love Mapes but he is going to tell the "Names" where to stick their suggestions and its not in the suggestion box.


"As I have have said on this site before this has been in the works for a while coach Roberts stepping down on his terms, and handing it over to Maples and DT.. which is what everyone wants

The wrench is the Admin or one person wants to do outside interviews for the job !!! The best guys are already there!!!!"

That's what BHS's admin thought when they threw the Driller's reigns to Jason Oliver, what a disaster.  Golla has brought stability and winning back and has aggressively sought out quality opponents to increase the chance of a State Bowl chance.
"Mr. President.  You don't pick winners and losers.  You pick LOSERS." Mitt Romney, October 3, 2012

TeddyKGB

I don't think you suggested anything of the sort, I agree with you if there was going to be a predetermined transition from Roberts to his successor then so be it don't hold interviews just for show.
I think the problem with telling the "names" where to stick it is that those names are the ones that write the checks and they may feel entitled to be in on the decisions, I'm only speculating here because I've never had the misfortune of being involved with garces  :)-.

BakoFan06

 If they get rid of John Roberts in order to promote Maples to HC, they are making a huge mistake. What does he bring to the table that John Roberts didn't? Much less discipline and a ton more bologny? Maybe Garces is on to him and wants to go in a different direction. If thats Hronis or someone currently outside the program, that makes more sense than Maples. Garces has a ton of talent and they dont need to take a step back by forcing a good man out and replacing him with someone who got fired from East High.

CoachSki

BHS, I'm not sure who the "Names" are in the admin to who you are referring.  It is a very structured organization to be sure.  But, the President of the school certainly did not have enough pull to keep his brother as the head coach.  The Principal, in my opinion, focuses more on academics than sports.  Monsignor Mike just wants to win with honor.  As for the powerful boosters, I can't imagine any of them pitting against Maples.  So, I am kinda at a loss as to how to respond to your post.  If you were to tell me some influential booster had an ax to grind with Maples, then that would make sense.  That would also be horribly tragic that the best interests of the kids would take a back seat to keeping boosters happy.  At this point, I refuse to accept that the powers in charge would allow this decision to be controlled by such influences.  I hope I am not naive.

diesel

Quote from: BakoFan06 on February 06, 2012, 11:50:08 AM
If they get rid of John Roberts in order to promote Maples to HC, they are making a huge mistake. What does he bring to the table that John Roberts didn't? Much less discipline and a ton more bologny? Maybe Garces is on to him and wants to go in a different direction. If thats Hronis or someone currently outside the program, that makes more sense than Maples. Garces has a ton of talent and they dont need to take a step back by forcing a good man out and replacing him with someone who got fired from East High.

Maples has a VC ring from his tenure at East back in '04.  Seemed like he knew what he was doing then.....

CoachSki

BakoFan, you got your facts all wrong.  From all sources I have spoken to, it was Roberts decision to step down.  I was originally suspicious based on earlier statements made by Roberts that he planned to coach one more year.  As for the "baloney" you assert surrounds Maples, you could say the same thing about every coach at every level.  The parents whose kids don't get to play always accuse the coach of playing favorites.  Nothing new there.  If there were any concerns about maples's being fired at East, he would have never been hired by Roberts in the first place.  As for the loose reigns on the program, you don't have to be a drill sergeant to win. 

TeddyKGB

Quote from: CoachSki on February 06, 2012, 11:55:41 AM
 That would also be horribly tragic that the best interests of the kids would take a back seat to keeping boosters happy.  

Unfortunately that is always a possibility, depends who the booster is and just how much pull they would have.

BakoFan06

Maples had so much talent on that VC squad, no coach could screw that up.  Although, I doubt he was more than 5 games over .500 in his career at East including that VC year. The football part is not Maples problem.

Loose reigns were an understatement. The kids ran wild in that program and it showed from the Varsity all the way down to the Frosh-soph.

I dont have anything personally against Maples and he could be a hell of a guy, I just dont think he is the right fit for Garces. Garces is a solid program and IMO, could be a valley power for a long time with the right coach and program.

I see Garces changing things around with all their young coaches, and call me crazy, but I would even venture to say your beloved Maples might not be there next year.

izne1home

Man, the more I read my deja vu is getting deja vu. 

CoachSki

I imagine the demographics at East were a large part of the issue with kids running amok.  All I know is that Maples has been a large part of the success over the last two years.  The success of the younger coaches has been, in large part, due to the tutelage of Maples.  There would be a seamless transition if he takes over.  That would not be the case if a new coach takes over, brings in his own hand packed staff, and possibly new system.  Right "fit" or not,  judge the man on what he has accomplished the last two years basically running this program.

CoachSki