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MIKE ALBERGHINI
THE MAX-PREPS NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
It isn't just this season that has rewarded Mike Alberghini and the Grant High School football team so handsomely.
Check out the entire body of work.
In Alberghini's first year as head coach, 1991, he led the Pacers to a 10-0 regular season and was named The Bee's co-Coach of the Year with Oakmont's Bob Vukajlovich, Alberghini's predecessor. This season, his 18th with Grant as the head man, he's The Bee's Coach of the Year again.
And no wonder. The Pacers' product is better than ever, which is saying something since the product has been as good as it gets in Northern California during his tenure: a 192-32-1 record, 18 consecutive playoff berths, 15 league titles, six Sac-Joaquin Section crowns, two unbeaten seasons in the last three years and the stirring victory in the 2008 California Interscholastic Federation Open Division State Football Championship Bowl Game over a Long Beach Poly team that came in ranked No. 2 in the country by ESPN Rise.
Grant's 25-20 victory in Carson on Saturday capped a 14-0 season and stands as one of the milestone achievements in Sacramento prep sports. And it landed the Pacers at No. 6 in the final USA Today prep poll, the highest final national ranking for an area team since Cordova finished No. 5 in 1979.
At the forefront was the grizzled 61-year-old "Coach Al," as he's known to his players. Alberghini heaped praise on his assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Reggie Harris, for their tireless commitment. He said the season was a pinnacle to Grant's success.
Grant High School head football coach Mike Alberghini, who led the Pacers to an undefeated season and a state bowl title, was named the National Coach of the Year by high school sports Web site MaxPreps.
Alberghini, a fixture at Grant since 1969 and head coach since 1991, led a Pacer squad that stormed through the regular season and playoffs 12-0 before an upset victory over heavily-favored Long Beach Poly in the State Open Division Bowl game last month.
The 61-year-old Alberghini has long been considered one of northern California's finest coaches, compiling a 188-32 record over 18 seasons at the helm, including 15 league and five section titles.
The head football job was actually the second sports career for Alberghini during his nearly 40-year tenure at Grant. The former teacher won 427 games as Grant's head baseball coach from 1973 to 1991.
credit: Sacramento Bee
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MATT LOGAN
RUSSELL ATHLETC NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Logan enters his 13th year as Head Coach of the Centennial Huskies. He has an overall record of 123-31. In the last nine seasons the Huskies have posted an incredible record of 105-15, including five CIF Championships, eight League Championships, two trips to the State Championship Bowl Game defeating De La Salle 21-16 in 2008's D-I State Bowl Game, and a 22 game winning streak. Coaching honors include: Press Enterprise Sportsmen of the Year ‘07, NFL/ABC Coach of the Year ‘07, CalHiSports State Coach of the Year ‘04, Riverside County Coach of the Year (’02, ’04, ‘07), CIF Coach of the Year (’00, ’02, ’04, ‘07), League Coach of the Year (’00, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’06, ‘07) and NFL Coach of the Week (’02, ‘07). He has been selected to coach in the Southern California Bowl (’07), Inland Empire All Star Classic (’00, ’02), Cal/Florida Bowl ’04, and the Shrine Game ’04. During his tenure there have been over 50 players earn scholarships. Before becoming the Head Coach, he served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Huskies when they reached the CIF Finals in ’96 and the CIF Semi-finals in ’95. Prior to Centennial, he coached at Esperanza High School (’93, ’94) and at Mater Dei High School (’92). A 1985 graduate of Norco High, he lettered in Football, Basketball, and Track and he was elected into the Hall of Fame in ‘97. After high school, Coach Logan went on to play Running Back at Fullerton College and then at Chico State University . He graduated from Chico State in 1990 with a Business Degree. After a couple of years in sales, he returned to college and in 1995 earned his Teaching Credential from Cal State Fullerton. In 2001, he graduated with a Masters Degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University . Currently, he teaches Physical Education at Centennial High School . Coach Logan and his late wife, Donna, have three beautiful daughters, Lindsey 16 a sophomore at Centennial, Samantha 13, and Madison 12.
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AL SIMMONS
• Hired as Cal's defensive backs coach on Jan. 6, 2008, brining 20 years of experience to the Golden Bear defense.
• The Bay Area product returns for his second stint on the Golden Bear staff after serving as Cal's cornerbacks coach from 1998-2000.
• Helped Arizona State to a share of the Pac-10 crown in 2007 while ranking third in the league in scoring defense and passing defense.
• During his first stint at Cal, was key in the transformation of one-time tailback Deltha O'Neal into an All-America defensive back. O'Neal was the first cornerback selected in the 2000 NFL Draft.
• In 2004 with the 49ers, the defense recorded 36 takeaways, their most since 1997.
• Coached All-American cornerback Dennis Weathersby at Oregon State - the Beavers led the Pacific-10 in passing defense in 2002.
• In 1992, his Cal State Hayward defense finished No. 1 in the conference in scoring defense and No. 2 in total defense.
• Helped San Francisco State place second in its conference in total defense, pass defense, turnovers created and scoring defense in 1994.
• Also participated in the National Football League's Minority Fellowship Coaching program in 1993 with the Oakland Raiders, in 1996 with the Arizona Cardinals, in 1999 with the San Diego Chargers and in 2000 with the Dallas Cowboys.
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AARON INGRAM
Prior to coming to Sacramento State, Ingram spent three seasons as the running backs coach at Foothill College in Los Altos, Calif.
A veteran offensive coach, Ingram was the quarterbacks coach at San Jose City College from Dec. 2002-Dec. 2004 before moving to Foothill. He also had stints as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Washington High School in Fremont (Dec. 2001-Dec. 2002), the receivers and tight ends coach at Fresno City College (March 1999-Dec.2001) and the running backs and quarterbacks coach back at Washington High School (Dec. 1994-Mar. 1999).
While at Fresno City College, the Rams posted a 29-1 overall record in three years and advanced to three consecutive bowl games. The team led the nation in scoring each season and had nine former players go on to play in the NFL.
As an assistant at FCC, Ingram worked closely with current Seattle Seahawk running back Maurice Morris. At Fresno City, Morris set national JC records of 4,487 all-purpose yards and 3,708 yards rushing on 593 carries. The previous national JC records were set by O.J. Simpson while he was at City College of San Francisco.
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DANIEL DAPRATO
Daniel DaPrato enters his third season as Sacramento State's wide receivers coach. In 2008, DaPrato coached Tony Washington to arguably the single greatest receiving season in school history. Washington set the school record with 83 receptions and 1,279 receiving yards and is second in school history with 12 touchdown receptions. His TD total only trails Mike Carter's mark of 14 which came in 1969. Following the year, Washington was named third team All-America by The Sports Network and first team all-Big Sky.
During the 2007 season, DaPrato coached Tony Washington and Ryan Coogler to honorable mention all-Big Sky Conference accolades. Coogler led the team with 38 receptions for 507 yards while Washington finished with 29 grabs for 414 yards.
While those two players earned the honor, DaPrato coached six players who caught at least 10 passes and six who had at least one receiving touchdown.
Prior to coming to Sacramento State, DaPrato spent five seasons as a member of the Louisiana-Monroe football program. DaPrato came to the Indians in the spring of 2002 as a junior college transfer from Chabot College in Hayward, Calif.
As a player, DaPrato played two seasons at quarterback for the Indians, his senior season under first-year head coach Charlie Weatherbie. DaPrato had key starts against Mississippi, Kansas State and Auburn, with his best game coming against Louisiana-Lafayette in 2003 where he led the team to a 45-42 win. In that game, DaPrato came off the bench to complete all three of his passes in the second half for 66 yards and also rushed twice for 33 yards.
After graduating in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance, DaPrato joined the Indians coaching staff as the offensive graduate assistant. He also served as the director of football operations for ULM in 2006.
In 2005, he was a member of the staff which posted a 5-6 record despite playing three schools from Bowl Championship Series conference’s, including Georgia and Arkansas. That year, the offense averaged over 350 yards per game and was led by quarterback Steven Jyles who threw for 203.2 yards per game.
As the team’s director of football operations in 2006, DaPrato was responsible for all team travel as well as managing the day-to-day activities of the office. He also was the school’s recruiting coordinator.
Originally from West Sacramento, Calif., DaPrato graduated with a master’s of education degree in instructional technology from Louisiana-Monroe.
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TONY FRANKS
Tony Franks has built St. Mary's HS Football into one of the premiere programs in the State as evidenced by its impressive results in the past 4 seasons. In 2008, The Rams defeated Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) for its 2nd D-I Section Title in 4 seasons and earned a berth in the State Bowl Championship series in Division II. The Rams fell short 37-34 to Cathedral Catholic but not without a heroic effort by the Ram squad which garnered national respect and attention for St. Mary's. Under Coach Frank's tutelage, St. Mary's has landed many recruits at the next level including QB's Willie Tuiatama (Arizona) and Cody Vaz (Oregon State)
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JOHN HENSON
John Henson has carried on a stellar tradition at Chowchilla HS. Having finished the 2008 campaign 12-1 with a Central Section Title and helped to send star player Fred Gaines to the next level (Cal Poly) Coach Henson has show and proven the Redskin Brotherhood is alive and well. His Double Wing Offense has proven to be tricky and a chore to slow down as we all know you can't truly "stop" the vaunted Double Wing Offense... or can you? Schedule Coach Henson's mighty Redskins and match wits with the young man!
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FRANK MARQUES
Frank Marques is considered a guru and mastermind of sorts in the local area when it comes to the Spread Offense and offense in general. He came in and rejuvenated a very tradition laden Hilmar Yellowjacket program, the minute he installed his spread offense the excitement began. One of the most talented players in Valley history, (Nathan Costa) was groomed by Coach Marques and ultimately received the full ride scholarship to the University of Oregon. Coach Marques led his 2008 Squad to the Section Championship Title with a resounding 17-6 win over perennial powerhouse Central Catholic and has firmly planted himself as one of the finest coaches in Valley history.
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ROB SCHEIDT
Rob Scheidt has been Head Coach at Merced HS for over 10 years and has brought the swagger and excitement back of the late 80's and early 90's with his wide open style of of hard hitting football. In 2006, Scheidt's Bears fell just short in the Sac-Jaoquin Section D-1 Title Game 37-36 against Vacaville in probably the most thrilling game in Section history as the Bears engineered a late drive in the waning seconds of the contest. Opting to go for two and the win, the Bears fell just short of their quest to be #1. Since then, Merced has set the standard in Central Valley football in many aspects including its Pat Hill-esque style of scheduling tough opponents.
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MARK KAANAPU
ATHERTON, Calif. – Menlo College Head Coach Mark Kaanapu announced this week that he is stepping down as the leader of the Oaks football program to take over the same role at Merced College, a community college located in California’s Central Valley. It has not been announced whether or not Kaanapu’s replacement will come from within the current Menlo coaching staff.
Kaanapu spent 11 seasons on the Menlo sidelines, the last eight as head coach, and finishes his time as the program’s second-longest tenured coach since the college became a four-year institution. Kaanapu concurrently held the role of Associate Athletic Director at Menlo along with leading the football program, leaving both jobs vacant.
While compiling 31 career wins – second only to Menlo Hall of Famer Ray Solari – with the Oaks, Kaanapu helped guide some of the most decorated and accomplished teams in school history. A high-powered offense was a trademark early in Kaanapu’s tenure with Menlo ranking in the top 10 nationally in scoring average and total offense in both 2001 and 2003. The Oaks achieved a program-best No. 9 ranking in the American Football Coaches’ Association NCAA Div. III Poll during the 2001 season.
Over the last three seasons Menlo has made the transition from Div. III independent to a member of the Northwest Conference under Kaanapu. While the Oaks finished just 2-4 in the NWC last season, three of their four losses were by a combined 12 points with the fourth coming in the season finale at conference-champion Willamette (AFCA No. 5; 11-1 overall). Kaanapu produced six All-Americans at Menlo, including NFL veteran Nate Jackson, and 42 Oaks have earned All-NWC mention over the last three seasons. Jackson, a record-setting wide receiver for the Oaks, has played six years in the NFL as a tight end, the last four with the Denver Broncos.
Kaanapu was an assistant for the Oaks from 1996-97 before taking over as the head coach at Live Oak High in Morgan Hill, Calif. After two years in the prep ranks, Kaanapu returned to Menlo as an assistant in 2000 before taking over as head coach of the Oaks program prior to the 2001 season. After graduating from Pacific University with dual degrees in history and political science, Kaanapu began his coaching career at his alma mater. He later had coaching stints at West Valley College, University of South Dakota, and with the Arena Football League’s San Jose SaberCats. Kaanapu holds a Master's degree in sports management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
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CARL REED
Coach Reed is the LB Coach @ Grant HS. His session will be about the 3-5 Defense with emphasis on the LB's and DL. Carl is a graduate of Grant HS as well and went on to very exciting College career before coming back to his alma mater.
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KURT BRYAN
Bay Area Confidential: Piedmont's A-11 is A-OK
There's more to Highlanders than revolutionary offense and more to playoff schedule than places and time.
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
Like most revolutions, even on a high school football field, this one met much resistance.
Piedmont coaches Steve Humphries and Kurt Bryan had masterminded a revolutionary offense last spring, the A-11, where all 11 players were eligible for passes.
They dissected the rule book, checked and double checked with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and spent gobs of cell phone minutes with referee organizations to make sure their six-receiver, three-linemen sets were clean, kosher and legal.
Once that got cleared, selling and implementing it to their players during spring break was another major obstacle.
"It looked pretty crazy but we were pretty open," starting quarterback Jeremy George said. "It was new and exciting and innovative. I think my parents were a little concerned who was going to protect me. I don't think the running backs were crazy about it. The receivers were really excited though."
Everyone was excited when the Highlanders dropped their first two games and scored just nine points in the process.
Excited in the bad sense, however.
Head coach Bryan, whose been in coaching since 1987 including stops at Menlo College and St. Mary's College, said he's never received so much hate mail or criticism.
"It was pretty bad," he said. "The worst I've ever received. But most of it was anonymous. It was kind of expected since we made such drastic switches and lost games."
Said George: "I think everyone was a little worried."
But Bryan, Humphries and staff reminded their players of a saying they'd repeated many times over the previous season, a far reaching credo that expanded far beyond the ultra spread offense.
"Tough times don't last but tough people do."
Trite maybe.
Corny perhaps.
But like corn syrup it stuck. And so did the offense.
The coaches said they never lost faith because despite the lack of production early, they still saw shimmering potential.
"We saw in game film we were one or two blown assignments away from major big plays," Humphries said. "If we fixed our mistakes, the entire thing would open right up."
They were right.
Behind the coach's faith, the players' execution and the innovative offense, the Highlanders rattled off seven straight wins before a 38-15 loss last week to defending North Coast Section Class A champion St. Patrick/St. Vincent-Vallejo.
The game decided the Bay Shore Athletic League championship.
Despite the defeat, Piedmont (7-3) received a NCS 2A East Bay at-large berth and tonight travels to top-seed Los Lomas-Walnut Creek (10-0) with a chance to create another revolution of sorts.
Humphries said he devised the offense just for this reason - so his undersized squad from a small-enrollment school could compete against bigger and larger-enrollment schools.
Of the 19 2A East Bay football schools, Piedmont ranks 18th with 941 students. Last Lomas ranks first with 1,569. The enrollment disparity, according to Humphries, is part of the reason the Highlanders haven't won a playoff game since 2000, losing five first-round games since then.
The A-11 features a center, a tight end on each side and three wide receivers to the right and left, respectively, with two quarterbacks in shotgun formation. With no one under center, the offense meets the criteria for a scrimmage kick formation.
Thus any player with eligible numbers (1-49 or 89-99) is eligible to catch a pass. See A-11 for more detail.
"We had to figure out a way to compete against bigger schools," Humphries said. "Year in, year out we are getting beat up in the playoffs by bigger and more physical teams. This allows us to utilize our speed, quickness and smarts."
George definitely utilizes all the above.
The 5-foot-9, 140-pound junior combines great feet (he's been a starter on the soccer team since he was a freshman), toughness and strong arm with a 3.85 grade point average to keep the Highlanders moving.
He's completed 120 of 205 for 1,483 yards and 12 touchdowns. He's also the team's leading rusher with 332 yards on 77 attempts, which includes only 12 sacks.
George has spread the ball all around as six receivers have at least 12 catches, led by Joey Andrada (31), Alexander Menke (26) and Kyle Bonachum (21).
"After our two losses, we really pulled together and worked even harder on the offense," George said. "It's not nearly as crazy as it seems."
The coaches agree and actually said once learned it's not any more complex than the wishbone, veer or conventional spread.
"We just call it the super spread," Humphries said.
The players aren't the only ones buying in, Bryan said.
He's received calls from at least 50 college coaches and one un-named NFL head coach.
"He's in the NFC," Humphries said. "That's all I can tell you."
Other advantages to the offense are that it's difficult to prepare for, team fitness and a constant ray of hope.
"We feel like no deficit is insurmountable," Bryan said.
Said Humphries: "Plus it just promotes innovation and excitement. When executed just right it's a thing of beauty."
The Highlanders will need a lot of beauty tonight to beat the juggernaut Knights, who average 370 yards and 41 points per game. Las Lomas features one of the East Bay's premier runners, Danny Ward (1,262 yards, 17 touchdowns) and dynamics receivers in Diante Jackson.
With all the attention paid to the A-11, Piedmont's strength is probably on defense, which gives up just 14 points a game and is led by 5-10, 180-pound linebacker Keith Reid (62 tackles) and 6-foot, 180-pound back Rory Bonnin (three interceptions).
No matter what happens tonight, Bryan said 2007 season has been an overwhelming success.
He credits other varsity staffers Pete Schneider (quarterbacks), Mario Thornton (receivers), Anthony Freeman (running backs/tight ends) and Kevin Anderson II (defensive coordinator) as equal parts.
"I'm proud of the team and staff to sticking to their guns and not wavering during really difficult times," he said. "The players really persevered and succeeded and that's something they can take with them always."
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