Former Southern California football coaching icon/athletic director Dick Bruich once famously said "all you need to be an athletic director is a good secretary." That's becoming less true as the years pass.
The San Ramon Valley Unified School District thinks being an A.D. is a pretty tough job. It has a new rule saying athletic directors cannot also be coaches. This prompted Monte Vista High athletic director Craig Bergman to announce his resignation as A.D.
“I stepped down as AD so I could still coach,” Bergman said.
Outgoing Acalanes basketball coach Bill Powers has accepted the job as the new Monte Vista athletic director.
Said Powers regarding leaving Acalanes: "I have coached for 25 years and this is probably the first decision when family wins. Leaving Acalanes has not been easy. It was a great experience with the players, parents, and staff. The opportunity to head up the athletic program at Monte Vista gives me great pride. My goal will be to continue the successes of Craig Bergman."
Over at San Ramon Valley High, John Raynor said his decision to resign as basketball coach after 33 years is not connected to the district's new rule. Raynor will no longer coach hoops, but he remains as A.D.
"I am stepping down as a basketball coach because it is my decision," Raynor said. "Our school district policy is not connected with my decision and
I support the direction of our school district with the athletic director role."
It's become a trend in SoCal for schools to move athletic directors away from coaching. Some districts, such as San Bernardino City Unified, don't allow A.D.'s to do both.
"We're seeing it lot less," said San Gorgonio High-San Bernardino athletic director Matt Maeda. "In some cases schools are making A.D.'s part of the administration, like in Riverside and Corona. So they're not just teachers on assignment any more."
Maeda said the A.D. job has become more difficult in the past 20 years with more demands regarding supervision, keeping up with rule changes, overseeing transfers and dealing with shrinking budgets.
"It's tricky, but it can be done," said Rob Poulos, who is the A.D. and football coach at Sequoia. "It's more of a concern in areas where the A.D. is a full-time position."
Poulos said his A.D. job is part-time, meaning he's released from teaching duties for 1-2 classes a day.
On the road: Poulos said the Sequoia football team will hit the road again in 2014 (for the fifth consecutive year), this year taking its annual trip to Valley Center in the San Diego area for a September 12 game. Other Cherokee non-league games are Palo Alto, Woodside and Kennedy-Richmond.
Romano next Bell A.D.: Joe Romano has been selected to succeed Mike West as the next Bellarmine College Prep athletic director, West said by e-mail Monday night.
Romano has been the Bell lacrosse coach since 2011 and is a counselor at the school.
"The players like him and they always have a good team," Bellarmine student Jack Duffy said of Romano.
Romano was a lacrosse star at Whittier College and began the lacrosse program at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont. West is leaving Bellarmine for a similar job at a school in Connecticut.
Valley Christian seeks basketball coach: Marcus Martinez has resigned as the Valley Christian basketball coach, Warriors athletic director Eric Scharrenberg said early Tuesday morning. The Warriors are now seeking a new coach.
Valley Christian went 9-20 overall last season, 1-13 in the WCAL. Valley Christian did manage to make the CCS Division III title game, but lost to Aragon 61-55.
Coal miners' daughter: While scanning the Central Coast Section school directory I noticed one Ali Pattison is the volleyball coach at tiny Kirby Prep in Santa Cruz (enrollment 175). Sure enough, Pattison is the same person I covered a decade ago at SoCal volleyball powerhouse Rim of the World High-Lake Arrowhead. Rim has won eight state titles in the sport, two under Ali's mother, Linda.
Somebody at Kirby Prep is apparently a jokester, because under Ali's biography on the Griffin web site it states she is "the youngest daughter of coal miners" majored in "biology and basket weaving," joined the Peace Corps where she helped raise "miniature orcas" and that her favorite color is "hot."
Yeah, they're a little bit different down there in Santa Cruz.
Mahoney to Spartans: Serra star basketball guard Danny Mahoney has committed to San Jose State, Mahoney confirmed Monday night. He earlier tweeted the news himself.
Said Mahoney by text: “I feel very happy. My eyes have been set on playing Division I basketball since I was 5 years old. To finally make it feels great and I am looking forward to playing under coach Wojcik and coach Brazelton. I couldn’t have done it without coach (Chuck) Rapp and the rest of the Serra community though.”
Regarding the scholarship issue, Mahoney said “I have the opportunity to earn a scholarship but I am on the team 100 percent.”
Mahoney averaged 18.4 points per game and had a season-high 35 against St. Francis.
Colts seeking coach: Logan is looking for a new basketball coach. Chris Fortenberry, who guided the Colts in 2013-2014 confirmed he will not be back a coach next season. The Colts went 13-14 overall last season, 10-4 in the Mission Valley Athletic League.
Rodriguez takes over at Encinal: Piedmont High assistant coach Ricky Rodriguez has been selected as the new Encinal football coach.
“I’m ecstatic,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve busted my (rear) for seven years under three terrific coaches and now I think it’s my time; I’m ready.”
Rodriguez has assisted under Ken Wittmer at Washington, Tim Murphy at Clayton Valley and Scott Coats at Piedmont.
“He’s a good coach,” Coats said of Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, 28, replaces the highly successful Joe Tenorio who resigned after last season, expressing a desire to find a place where he can be an on-campus coach. Encinal went 8-3 last season.
Johnsons to Texas: Valley Christian brothers Kirk and Collin Johnson have committed to Texas for football, the two said via social media last week.
Tweeted Kirk: “Committed to the University of Texas! Hook’ em!”
Both were hindered by injuries in 2013. Kirk rushed for 1,228 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven games last season. Collin had 99 yards receiving and three TD catches.
Briefly: Matt Fox is the new Sequoia water polo coach, replacing Francisco Andaluz. ... Sequoia football player Matt Jenkins will play at Brown University next season, coach Rob Poulos said.
