There are times where you sense that hiring the right person for a job is paramount
to turn the tide.
to turn the tide.
For Napa High football, now is that time. The storied program is like a fallen
champion that was floored to the canvas and shoved out of the ring. The Indians
turned Grizzlies hit rock bottom in going 0-10, the first time in school history the
program posted such a record and the first winless season since 1955.
champion that was floored to the canvas and shoved out of the ring. The Indians
turned Grizzlies hit rock bottom in going 0-10, the first time in school history the
program posted such a record and the first winless season since 1955.
The Napa Valley Unified School District posted a vacancy for the Napa High
football head coach position on edjoin.com on Friday. The position may be
combined with a single subject teaching position. The teacher aspect of the
job carries a pay range from $57,579-$83,198 over 182.5 workdays. The
coaching aspect of the job carries a stipend of $3,253. The deadline to apply for
the job is January 7.
football head coach position on edjoin.com on Friday. The position may be
combined with a single subject teaching position. The teacher aspect of the
job carries a pay range from $57,579-$83,198 over 182.5 workdays. The
coaching aspect of the job carries a stipend of $3,253. The deadline to apply for
the job is January 7.
The last two years have been a free fall: 1) Hazing scandal that led to the
resignation of Troy Mott and the entire coaching staff, 2) The hiring of JV head
coach Jesus Martinez at the 11th hour to avert cancelling the 2017 season, 3) The
athletic director revolving door from Brian King to Kelly Van Winden to Thomas
Sims to Tom Petithomme, who is now the co-AD with Darci Ward, 4) Within two
weeks of Petithomme, who also teaches physical education, being hired, Martinez
was fired but told to say he resigned. Martinez told the school and NVUSD to kick
rocks. Lest we forget the mascot change from Indians to Grizzlies. Petithomme
took over for Martinez as the interim coach, which in a nutshell is why the job is
being advertised.
resignation of Troy Mott and the entire coaching staff, 2) The hiring of JV head
coach Jesus Martinez at the 11th hour to avert cancelling the 2017 season, 3) The
athletic director revolving door from Brian King to Kelly Van Winden to Thomas
Sims to Tom Petithomme, who is now the co-AD with Darci Ward, 4) Within two
weeks of Petithomme, who also teaches physical education, being hired, Martinez
was fired but told to say he resigned. Martinez told the school and NVUSD to kick
rocks. Lest we forget the mascot change from Indians to Grizzlies. Petithomme
took over for Martinez as the interim coach, which in a nutshell is why the job is
being advertised.
At the district level, superintendent Patrick Sweeney, who retired, was replaced by
Rosanna Mucetti. On the Napa High front, principal Annie Petrie has been replaced
by Browns Valley Elementary School principal Frank Silva. Petrie has been
reassigned within the district,
Rosanna Mucetti. On the Napa High front, principal Annie Petrie has been replaced
by Browns Valley Elementary School principal Frank Silva. Petrie has been
reassigned within the district,
I do not want to make this reading about rehashing the past but for further reference,
if you wish to torture yourself here are the links below:
if you wish to torture yourself here are the links below:
What needs to be emphasized is that NVUSD and Napa High can’t swing and miss
on this hire. It’s not the end of the world of the hire is not a home run but it cannot be
a strikeout. In a nutshell, Napa High football has endured multiple shotgun wounds
but continues to be a Band-Aid, the bleeding will continue.
on this hire. It’s not the end of the world of the hire is not a home run but it cannot be
a strikeout. In a nutshell, Napa High football has endured multiple shotgun wounds
but continues to be a Band-Aid, the bleeding will continue.
So what constitutes getting the right hire? I have my theories but no actual insight.
My top four choices in no particular order are Mott, Ian MacMillan, Rich Cotruvo
and Kirk Anderson. I do not see a scenario where Mott returns. I can’t see the board
being so willing to swallow its pride to give what so many people want and why
would Mott want or need them at this point? MacMillan is a proven winner who has
been a varsity and JV coach but has a great situation in St. Helena as a teacher
and coach.
My top four choices in no particular order are Mott, Ian MacMillan, Rich Cotruvo
and Kirk Anderson. I do not see a scenario where Mott returns. I can’t see the board
being so willing to swallow its pride to give what so many people want and why
would Mott want or need them at this point? MacMillan is a proven winner who has
been a varsity and JV coach but has a great situation in St. Helena as a teacher
and coach.
Cotruvo and Anderson, I believe, would consider coming to Napa if asked. Cotruvo
is a proven winner. After being pushed out after 19 years at Justin-Siena, he is now
at Terra Linda. Anderson is a former Napa High quarterback and, like MacMillan,
former assistant of Mott. Anderson was a varsity assistant at Will C. Wood last
season and American Canyon in 2017.
is a proven winner. After being pushed out after 19 years at Justin-Siena, he is now
at Terra Linda. Anderson is a former Napa High quarterback and, like MacMillan,
former assistant of Mott. Anderson was a varsity assistant at Will C. Wood last
season and American Canyon in 2017.
MacMillan and Anderson were qualified to step in for Mott after he resigned but
given their friendship with him, they were reluctant to cross that line. However,
emotions were raw at the time, maybe they have settled now that the program
has sunk to the bottom of the ocean two years later.
given their friendship with him, they were reluctant to cross that line. However,
emotions were raw at the time, maybe they have settled now that the program
has sunk to the bottom of the ocean two years later.
Those four individuals, however, being linked to the Napa football job is highly
speculative and I have no proof they have been contacted. Regardless of who is
hired, the importance of getting it right is vital. Are we looking for high school’s
version of Bill Belichick or Nick Saban? No. This is high school where wins and
losses are not everything. Of course you want a leader that 1) emphasizes that
the youngsters are student-athletes with the student part coming first, 2) being
active as community members, 3) using athletics as a tool to prepare for life, etc.
speculative and I have no proof they have been contacted. Regardless of who is
hired, the importance of getting it right is vital. Are we looking for high school’s
version of Bill Belichick or Nick Saban? No. This is high school where wins and
losses are not everything. Of course you want a leader that 1) emphasizes that
the youngsters are student-athletes with the student part coming first, 2) being
active as community members, 3) using athletics as a tool to prepare for life, etc.
The close second is that you want youngsters to look back at their playing
experience with fondness. Between going 3-16 on the field the last two years and
the off the field escapades, I find to hard to believe that being a Napa High football
player has been fun the last two seasons. The new hire needs to be able to 1) get
kids excited about football, especially those that decided not to play and 2) unite a
fan base that has faded away. From a win-loss standpoint, I’m not asking this team
to suddenly leapfrog Vintage and American Canyon but at least become functional
and viable.
experience with fondness. Between going 3-16 on the field the last two years and
the off the field escapades, I find to hard to believe that being a Napa High football
player has been fun the last two seasons. The new hire needs to be able to 1) get
kids excited about football, especially those that decided not to play and 2) unite a
fan base that has faded away. From a win-loss standpoint, I’m not asking this team
to suddenly leapfrog Vintage and American Canyon but at least become functional
and viable.
I understand that high school athletics is the pinnacle for most kids in their athletic
journey. However, if you are a football fan in the Napa Valley you should want local
schools to thrive. The matchup of Napa and Vintage is known as Big Game. From
2002-2016, it was not compelling with Napa winning all but the 2005 contest mostly
in decisive fashion. In those years, the Monticello Empire League race ran through
Napa and Vacaville primarily. Vintage was mostly middle of the road with a few
subpar seasons.
journey. However, if you are a football fan in the Napa Valley you should want local
schools to thrive. The matchup of Napa and Vintage is known as Big Game. From
2002-2016, it was not compelling with Napa winning all but the 2005 contest mostly
in decisive fashion. In those years, the Monticello Empire League race ran through
Napa and Vacaville primarily. Vintage was mostly middle of the road with a few
subpar seasons.
In 2017, Vintage broke the spell with a 14-7 win over Napa. Last season, Vintage
blasted Napa off the field with a 69-14 win. The last two seasons, Vintage has
experienced a revival under head coach Dylan Leach, who was a coordinator on
both sides under Mott (defense 2010-2012; Offense 2013-2014; overseeing both
in 2015). Vintage called the 1992 Crusher alum back home to lead the program.
The Crushers are 22-12 under Leach, 17-6 the last two seasons. In that span,
Napa has gone from really good to really bad without stopping at mediocre.
blasted Napa off the field with a 69-14 win. The last two seasons, Vintage has
experienced a revival under head coach Dylan Leach, who was a coordinator on
both sides under Mott (defense 2010-2012; Offense 2013-2014; overseeing both
in 2015). Vintage called the 1992 Crusher alum back home to lead the program.
The Crushers are 22-12 under Leach, 17-6 the last two seasons. In that span,
Napa has gone from really good to really bad without stopping at mediocre.
Though it will never replace the Big Game, the last few seasons, the rivalry between
Vintage and American Canyon has been more compelling. The newly formed Vine
Valley Athletic League needs Napa to rebound because the strength of the league
did not have a positive viewing, and I’m being charitable. Whoever the new head
coach is, there is going to be sweat equity from assembling a staff to getting kids
excited about football.
Vintage and American Canyon has been more compelling. The newly formed Vine
Valley Athletic League needs Napa to rebound because the strength of the league
did not have a positive viewing, and I’m being charitable. Whoever the new head
coach is, there is going to be sweat equity from assembling a staff to getting kids
excited about football.
There is talent in the program. The problem was that the kids were asked to run a
system that they did not have the athletes to execute. For years, Napa has been a
run dominated team with various elements of option football. Last season, they
became a spread passing team. That’s like trying to turn a John Deere to a Jaguar.
system that they did not have the athletes to execute. For years, Napa has been a
run dominated team with various elements of option football. Last season, they
became a spread passing team. That’s like trying to turn a John Deere to a Jaguar.
At this point, I would be happy if Napa High football became a vehicle that got back
on a paved road.
on a paved road.
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