The stories that newly appointed Calistoga High football coach Jim Klaczak has to convey
would play well with a segment of the fan base that remembers the Golden Age of Wildcats
football.
would play well with a segment of the fan base that remembers the Golden Age of Wildcats
football.
Though the segment in the community has dwindled over the years, Klaczak’s affinity for
football tradition would play well with the likes of Jim Hunt and Frank Stagnaro to name a
few. I could mention numerous names but in the interest of space, I won’t.
football tradition would play well with the likes of Jim Hunt and Frank Stagnaro to name a
few. I could mention numerous names but in the interest of space, I won’t.
Klaczak replaces Mike Ervin, who resigned in late March in large part because of
irreconcilable differences between former athletic director Karen Yoder and the school’s
administration. The 1962 Calistoga High graduate coached the program for two stints
(2006-2010; 2015-2017).
irreconcilable differences between former athletic director Karen Yoder and the school’s
administration. The 1962 Calistoga High graduate coached the program for two stints
(2006-2010; 2015-2017).
Klaczak, who lives in Napa, was most recently the athletic director at Trinity Prep (Napa)
and is well-travelled. He grew up in Levittown, PA, just North of Philadelphia and played
college football in three places (Illinois, Taft College and University of San Francisco).
Klaczak is also an answer to a trivia question in that he played for Vince Lombardi -- yes,
that Vince Lombardi -- for the Washington Redskins.
and is well-travelled. He grew up in Levittown, PA, just North of Philadelphia and played
college football in three places (Illinois, Taft College and University of San Francisco).
Klaczak is also an answer to a trivia question in that he played for Vince Lombardi -- yes,
that Vince Lombardi -- for the Washington Redskins.
He has also coached in numerous places, USF, LSU, Texas A&M, Hawaii, Arizona State,
San Francisco State and Menlo College.
San Francisco State and Menlo College.
At the high school ranks, Klaczak has been a head coach at Brook Hill (Bullard, Tx.), St.
Anthony (Maui, Hi) and De Anza (Richmond, Ca), He has also been an assistant coach at
Lahainaluna High (Hawaii), which reached the state finals on two occasions. At Brook Hill,
he was named District Coach of the Year after a 9-2 season that saw the team reach the
second round of the state playoffs.
Anthony (Maui, Hi) and De Anza (Richmond, Ca), He has also been an assistant coach at
Lahainaluna High (Hawaii), which reached the state finals on two occasions. At Brook Hill,
he was named District Coach of the Year after a 9-2 season that saw the team reach the
second round of the state playoffs.
During his time as athletic director at Trinity Prep, the school formed a flag football team
because two of the three boys sports it offers (baseball and soccer) did not have enough
players. The team finished 7-0.
because two of the three boys sports it offers (baseball and soccer) did not have enough
players. The team finished 7-0.
I have never met Klaczak and I consider Ervin a friend, not from the standpoint of doing
things socially but we have stayed in frequent contact over the years either when I was a
sports reporter on the St. Helena and Calistoga beat. I can’t truly make an objective call on
Klaczak but a good friend of mine, whose name I won’t reveal, gives him rave reviews.
things socially but we have stayed in frequent contact over the years either when I was a
sports reporter on the St. Helena and Calistoga beat. I can’t truly make an objective call on
Klaczak but a good friend of mine, whose name I won’t reveal, gives him rave reviews.
At first glance what is impressive is that Klaczak has the market cornered the football
market on all three levels. First of all, anyone that played for Lombardi is certain to have
acquired great wisdom. On the college side, being at Power 5 schools and lesser known
ones brings great perspective. High school football in Texas? You don’t get any bigger than
that and Pennsylvania takes a back seat to very few.
market on all three levels. First of all, anyone that played for Lombardi is certain to have
acquired great wisdom. On the college side, being at Power 5 schools and lesser known
ones brings great perspective. High school football in Texas? You don’t get any bigger than
that and Pennsylvania takes a back seat to very few.
Having the foresight to form a flag football team at Trinity, which is a school with an
enrollment of 50 kids (plus or minus a few) also speaks volumes. Klaczak told the Weekly
Calistogan that he would like to get the Wildcats back to 11-man football after a three-year
forray in the North Central League III (8-man football). I like the ambition because after all,
eight-man football doesn’t resonate with people like the 11-man product. Plus, Klaczak is
the fresh face in town because when you are a recent hire, you are not jaded yet.
enrollment of 50 kids (plus or minus a few) also speaks volumes. Klaczak told the Weekly
Calistogan that he would like to get the Wildcats back to 11-man football after a three-year
forray in the North Central League III (8-man football). I like the ambition because after all,
eight-man football doesn’t resonate with people like the 11-man product. Plus, Klaczak is
the fresh face in town because when you are a recent hire, you are not jaded yet.
The problem with Calistoga going to 11-man football is not necessarily a numbers issue
because it is the second-largest school in the NCL III after Upper Lake. For the most part,
and I know this from experience on that beat in my previous career, Calistoga has had
enough bodies for 11-man football and in some cases for both JV and varsity.
because it is the second-largest school in the NCL III after Upper Lake. For the most part,
and I know this from experience on that beat in my previous career, Calistoga has had
enough bodies for 11-man football and in some cases for both JV and varsity.
The problem is finding an 11-man league with enough competitive equity that does not
involve a ton of travel. The Wildcats would get housed in the NCL I but the NCL III might
be too limiting on a long term basis. If Klaczak can find a solution most are not thinking of,
he could sell gold. I have no doubt about Klaczak’s football acumen and maybe I’m cynical
having seen the inner workings of various administrations past and present, many past
coaches eventually got frustrated. Even the mild-mannered Dan Conner reached his wit’s
end in 2005.
involve a ton of travel. The Wildcats would get housed in the NCL I but the NCL III might
be too limiting on a long term basis. If Klaczak can find a solution most are not thinking of,
he could sell gold. I have no doubt about Klaczak’s football acumen and maybe I’m cynical
having seen the inner workings of various administrations past and present, many past
coaches eventually got frustrated. Even the mild-mannered Dan Conner reached his wit’s
end in 2005.
The good news is that unlike Ervin, who did two rebuilds for the Wildcats, Klaczak steps
into a program that has enjoyed recent success. Calistoga went a combined 17-7 the previous
three years in eight-man football. That situation is the polar opposite of what Klaczak
inherited at De Anza, which is a program that lost 40 consecutive games before he took the
reigns.
into a program that has enjoyed recent success. Calistoga went a combined 17-7 the previous
three years in eight-man football. That situation is the polar opposite of what Klaczak
inherited at De Anza, which is a program that lost 40 consecutive games before he took the
reigns.
As Klaczak takes the reigns, here’s hoping Wildcat fans have another storied chapter to their
book.
book.
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