- East Bay Prep Corner
Northgate football coach resigns
By contracostatimesprepsportsstaff
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 at 5:06 pm in Football.
We found out today that Darin Owens, the Northgate football coach who seemed to turn the program around last year, has resigned. Owens cited the benefits package of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District as the No. 1 reason for leaving. He said he, his wife and two kids just couldn’t afford to live in the area with the benefits situation being as it was.
Now, I suppose since this is a blog I get to voice my own opinion on matters such as these, so here it is: It’s incredibly sad to lose a coach of his caliber to a bureaucratic mess such as this. I saw Northgate play once this season and I was really impressed with what Owens was doing over there. Owens told me he thinks everything will be OK with the program and that they did some good work in the one year he was there but man, I wish we could have seen what he could do in the second and third years.
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January 17th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Sad is an understatement…I really feel for next year seniors who are once again in limbo for next season.
January 17th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I wonder if this would have been any different if Northgate was in a different school district.
January 17th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
This is exactly why NORTHGATE should be in the Walnut Creek school disctrict. Get out and sign those petitions.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
The petition is not for NHS to be in WCSD but in Acalanes. WCSD is the elementary/middle school district. Good luck get that to happen. WCSD doesn’t want you there.
January 24th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I played for Coach Owens almost ten years ago in southern california and he is a great person, coach, and a great role model for young men. Good luck Coach and I pray that God blesses you and your family.
January 28th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I’ve heard Chris Turner, a former coach for the Raiders and currently at stanford is interested in the job. he would be a great choice.
January 28th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
ya guys too bad coach owens is headed up to idaho to coach at my high school hillcrest we cant wait to have him
January 29th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I can’t wait to have coach owens come to Idaho. We really need a new coach and we are all ready to work hard for him. He sure sounds like the right guy for the job.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I can’t wait to have coach owens come and coach us at Hillcrest. This is going to be a great couple of years for me during my junior and senior year. I have heard great things about coach and i can’t wait.
January 29th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Dustin, Matt and Jordan, where is Hillcrest High in Idaho? What city are you guys in?
January 29th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Ben are you a player for the Northgate Broncos?
January 29th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Nope, I’m a reporter here at the Contra Costa Times. I was just curious as to where your school is.
January 29th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
It is in the city Ammon, Idaho. Its in the Idaho Falls area. Ben do you know anything about what kind of offense he runs
January 29th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Actually, I had the good fortune to watch Northgate’s first game under Owens last year and I was quite surprised when the Broncos came out in the double-wing, double-tight offense. It’s definitely a run-based offense and they threw maybe twice in the game I saw. I’d expect the same run-heavy principles he employed at Northgate to carry over.
January 29th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Sorry one more question for you it would be cool if you could answer it for me. Do they run the option much?
January 29th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Well, the double-wing double-tight is a form of the option. But, it’s not an option in the mold of, say, Nebraska of a few years ago. It’s not a veer like Navy’s either and it’s definitely not a spread option like West Virginia. Basically you have two wing backs, two tight ends and a tailback. You can run the option out of it (and Northgate did occasionally when I saw them) but it’s more of a straight-ahead attack.
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I play football for Northgate and I’m gonna be a senior next year. I think we’ll be alright but the teams pretty sad about his departure. The double-wing is probably one of the most productive offenses I’ve ever played for, we had a real turn around last year. Next year we’ll hopefully improve further.
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:53 am
Rafay, any news on who your new coach is?
April 17th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
yeah i cant wait for coach owens to come coach here at hillcrest its about time we get a good football program here
September 1st, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Our new head coach is Coach Lowell, he was the assistant head coach last year. He is a great coach and role model for the players.
October 24th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Coach Owens is the best coach ive played under, before coach owens came to hillcrest we were on a 24 game loosing streak. This year were 6-1, fourth in state, playing for our conference championship tonight.
October 25th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Wow, that’s outstanding. Coach Owens really is a miracle worker. I hope he stays at Hillcrest more than just a year or two.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I go to hillcrest, and Owens has got these boys believing. Friday night the guys beat the number one team in the state, Pocatello 42-21. 2 games away from the state championship. Amazing turnaround.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
We love Coach Owens at Hillcrest. He is an amazing man, mentor and all around person. He pulled our football out of an unbelievable slump and took them all the way to state. State Champs baby. Coach Owens all the way!!!!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Coach Owens has brought change to our entire area! He has worked with all of his coaches, who must also be mentioned, to bring these very dedicated and talented boys to taste real team work and absolute victory. It was a fabulous and amazing ride! Let’s do it again. The Hillcrest Knight Football Team has the utmost respect for this man and his coaching staff. Let’s not forget his wonderful wife and family. After all behind every great man is a wonderful woman!
November 24th, 2008 at 12:21 am
That great for Hillcrest. Coach Owens really is a miracle worker. From 24 losses in a row to state champs.
July 28th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
They’re making a major motion picture about coach Owens!