- East Bay Prep Corner
30Q-2-KICKOFF (No. 12): The Right Man for the Job
By Chace Bryson
Sunday, August 16th, 2009 at 9:00 am in East Bay Football.
There wasn’t quite as much shuffling among the coaching ranks this offseason as in recent years, but still a handful of noteworthy programs took on new leaders. So today Ben and I are gonna give you a Sunday Special of point/counterpoint action. Here’s the question we’ll both be answering.
Which new coach is in the best situation to succeed?
CHACE – I am actually going to make a case for Mike Ivankovich at Acalanes. I’m prepared to list five reasons why I believe this.
1. He’s clearly established himself as a solid head coach. At Ygnacio Valley Ivankovich’s teams were perennial league title contenders. And he closed his tenure with the Warriors by securing a 2005 NCS title.
2. Ivankovich has been coaching the Dons’ freshman team for the past three season, giving him familiarity with every kid in the program. Which also will make each player comfortable with him.
3. There are no expectationso on this team. They will be in a competitive league, but not be facing the pressures that teams like Miramonte and Las Lomas will be facing as those programs try to build on their 2008 success.
4. Ivankovich has put the band back together. His former assistants at Ygnacio Valley have come over to join his staff, including Josh Davis — who took over the YV program in 2006 after Ivankovich departed and led the Warriors to the playoffs in all three of his seasons.
5. And finally, it’s the double-wing, double-tight offense. Ivankovich is one of the best at coaching it, and it’s a system that can cause defenses fits if they aren’t disciplined enough.
BEN — I’m going to step out of my comfort zone a little for this one. I’m going to pick Isamu Falevai at Fremont High.
Falevai steps in for Eugene Denard, who engineered a great turnaround last year for the Tigers. The first-year coach inherits the one thing that a new coach dreams about though (aside from a great QB) – a stud defensive prospect. I’m talking about Sione Tupouata, who Jimmy talked about on Friday in his OAL preview. Come on, how can you not hang your hat on a guy nicknamed “Concrete”?
Another big reason I’m going with Fremont is the momentum factor. Last year was the surprise year, the one that brought the Tigers back to the front of the OAL and let everyone know that things are headed in the right direction. Even with a new coach, year two of the turnaround could be even better because those guys know what it’s like to win now. Last year’s Silver Bowl loss to Castlemont will only make the returners hungrier for the upcoming season.
Finally, I think last year showed the OAL is a bit more up for grabs than it was over the preceding couple of years. There isn’t that one dominant team anymore and I think that while Castlemont certainly earned the right to be the favorite, it could be anyone’s ballgame and if Falevai keeps the Tigers on the upswing, they could be dangerous.
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August 16th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Isamu fellas hands down. He believes in hitting, discipline, respect and accountability. Fremont, led by Concrete and others will be HARD.
August 16th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Chace, is it confirmed that Ivankovich is going to run the DoubleWing? It was originally reported that he was going with a Pro Style offense, but that may have just been mis-information. Makes sense to run DoubleWing all he did was have success with it & win NCS.
August 16th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Yes Ivankovich will run the double wing
August 16th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Ivankovich is not only a tough hard boiled coach, no-nonsense and the man doesn’t even bleed when cut deep, but he’s a well proven winner and is relishing the challenge of pounding out wins vs. LL, Campo and the rest.
It will take 3 years for big Mike to right the Dons ship, but woe be the teams in their way in 2011 – 12 and beyond.
Great move by Acalanes, Lafayetteans should be happy.
August 16th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I have heard that he had to commit to “opening it up” in order to get the job at Acalanes.
One thing is for sure, if he doesn’t win – quickly, he and the double wing will be out faster than athletics in Mt. Diablo Unified. I wish it wasnt this way, but in the DW, you are either a back, OL or a TE…no WR’s. Doesn’t every kid from Lafayette want to be a QB or a WR? And doesn’t mommy and daddy want to see something similar to watching TV on Saturdays and Sundays?
“In the double wing, you throw the ball almost every play, but its mostly backwards.”
August 17th, 2009 at 1:43 am
ACA WILL NOT be only DW this year. I saw them in 7 on 7 this summer. Yes they ran some DW, but they also ran some stuff from the pistol with an offset FB and a TB
Dont get me wrong they wont be going 5 wide anytime soon, but they will not be DW 100$ of the time either
August 17th, 2009 at 5:07 am
Seems like an odd fit, pistol with the double wing. I wonder how he’s planning on infusing the two systems. Did his pistol set revolve around the old run and shoot principles or was it more run oriented with option? I’ve been watching the “spread revolution” as of late and have found myself wondering how long it will last. It seems that once it’s lost its edge of unfamiliarity the next thing on the horizon is going to be the flex bone option, football being as cyclical as it is. Been seeing some teams run some of their flex bone with a quarterback in the pistol. Could Ivankovich be looking to incorporate the pistol set quarterback into his double wing and add a ton of more option to their repertoire? Just a thought. Not hating on the spread.
August 17th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I dont think he will run option.
I think in this set they will try to ISo and Power the ball, and use a lot of play action passing
August 19th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Isamu is a good coach. He was also a hella of a ball player. All American when we were teammates at Laney. Fremont will be good.
August 19th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Fremont High overall team is good on all three levels and they are my favorite to win that league. Those boys play hard and they hit hard. Concrete will lead that team to have a great year, he is one of the best athletes I’ve seen in a while. But not only him but there line is pretty solid too and that is because of good coaching. Watch out for Fremont!