- East Bay Prep Corner
Perenon dismissed as O’Dowd football coach
By Jimmy Durkin
Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 7:05 pm in Uncategorized.
Paul Perenon is out as head football coach after 25 years at Bishop O’Dowd High, the school and a lawyer representing the coach said Monday.
Perenon, one of the East Bay’s most successful coaches with a 209-75-2 record, was called into a meeting Friday to review comments made about him by some players and subsequently was “told he wouldn’t be the football coach anymore,” attorney Stephen Jaffe said.
The school released a statement Monday evening announcing that “Perenon’s contract as varsity football coach will not be renewed, but Perenon will remain at O’Dowd as (a physical education) teacher and head of the P.E. department.”
“We want to thank Paul for his years of service as a coach and his dedication to the game of football,” O’Dowd president Steve Phelps and principal Joe Salamack said in the statement.
Perenon declined to comment, directing questions to his attorney because the case could involve litigation.
“They gave Paul a choice of resigning or them taking action against him,” Jaffe said. “Paul has no intention of resigning. If they want him out, they’re going to have to push him out the door.”
Jaffe said there will be a mediation procedure in March as the Diocese of Oakland — the administrator of Bishop O’Dowd — reviews the complaints against Perenon. Jaffe said his client will reserve the right to seek legal action against the dismissal, pending the result of mediation.
“I don’t know if it’s unique, but (Perenon’s) not aware of any other athletic employee reviewed in this manner,” Jaffe said. “There’s really no reason, no rational reason for this dismissal.”
Jaffe also is representing four O’Dowd teachers whose contracts were not renewed last year. They include golf coach Dick Roza, a 52-year veteran of the school, and music director Leonard Rossi, who had taught at O’Dowd for 38 years. Jaffe said another of his clients is a still-employed social studies teacher who has been stripped of some classroom duties.
Perenon, who won his 200th game in 2008, led the Dragons to three North Coast Section titles, most recently a 2A East Bay crown in 2004. His teams captured two straight 3A East Bay titles in 1997-98 and won four consecutive Hayward Area Athletic League titles from 1996-99.
Support for the longtime coach has begun to pour in since word of Perenon’s dismissal started circulating late last week.
“We’ve received a lot of letters from past players, present players and so on in his support that are being forwarded to the school and the diocese,” Jaffe said.
O’Dowd senior Mario Brown, the HAAL’s leading rusher this season and a first-team all-league selection, expressed his appreciation for Perenon.
“I love him as a coach,” Brown said. “It’s sad to see him go. It’s just the way things work out. He was good to me and all the O’Dowd players.”
Staff writer Katy Murphy contributed to this report.
Here are two videos that touch on the career of Perenon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXIUABij-hs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol1BUYDP00s
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February 1st, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Sounds like some whinny ass players were ear hustling & decided to rat Coach Perenon out. Sad to read. But it seems like the administration is cleaning house. The school must fear some huge scandal & are being proactive.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Perenon’s probably going straight to Berkeley.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:45 pm
I wonder if attorney Stephen Jaffe is the father of BOD standout baseball player Eric Jaffe who is headed for Cal next year? The odds are good, or it is quite a coincidence.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Prep Fan,
It’s actually just a coincidence. I asked Stephen and he isn’t related and doesn’t know Eric.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:35 pm
While we need to wait for the facts to emerge, this “reeks to high heaven” (sort of sorry for the reference). Does Craig James have relatives in the Bay Area?
Separately, California has unique employment laws related to workers over 40. The trends cited do not look good for “management” unless private schools are exempt from fair labor standards. This will either get ugly or out-of-court settlements will be offered.
BTW, I have no ties to the school, the church, or the principals in the case.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Continuation from #5: …and I am not a lawyer, but I have dealt with these matters for over 25 years. The evidence must be convincing, or the whiners must have the funds to purchase the additional 5 acres that BOD needs to build modern state-of-the-art facilities AND buy out the contracts. TRUE.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Wow!I can’t believe that O’Dowd got rid of this guy. This is a hot job an I wonder who will be the next coach?
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:07 am
The “retired” SRV coach Kravitz could be a prime candidate at BOD or at Berkeley. I have no prior knowledge, but coach Kravitz is a pro, and he knows how to develop QBs (and offenses) unlike few in the bay area.
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:28 am
perkin i really dont think perenon would work at berkeley dont seem like a good fit
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:24 am
Bishop O’Dowd has disgraced east bay football by dismissing Perenon without letting the man who built BOD football at least have a parting swan song of one final year in 2010 to say farewell.
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:32 am
From what I’ve heard from the coaches that I know labor laws don’t apply to coaches. It could be different in Perenon’s case I don’t know anybody who coaches at a private school. The guys I know told methey can be fired for any reason the administration doesn’t need cause. I do hope that Coach Perenon makes it back but I don’t see how. They made a public dismissal of him. If he were able to override that then that would prove thats he’s obviously above the administration. I think he’s got Mike Leach odds to make it back.
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:18 am
first of all, no one knows the reasons for his dismissal. I doubt it could solely be from some “whinny” kids, if that was the case, there would be other coaches let go also. Second, the fact that he was retained as teacher could mean the school wasn’t happy with the direction the football program has taken, which who could argue with that? I am just speculating, but I have heard that he does alot for his players and that they appreciate him, that being said, BOD doesn’t seem like the type of school that would like their dirty laundry aired in public, so, for them to make this move, they musta had a solid reason. Maybe they thought he would have his swan song after last season and he didn’t so they had to do what they had to do. Maybe they wanna clean house across the board and if you ain’t cuttin it, you just ain’t cuttin it.(which doesn’t seem their style, but you never know) All speculation of course….. Very curious to see how this pans out.
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:54 am
This reminds me of the way they dismissed the boys varsity basketball coach a few years back.Coach Morales took over the program in the midst of the Phelps scandal,dealt with all the distractions associated with it took them to the Nor Cal finals and a state championship game along with Haal titles and was dismissed via a phone call.The administration then told the media it was a mutual decision when it wasn’t.Looks like a similar situation. Maybe the problem is in the administration department.Just wondering is the President Steve Phelps related to former basketball coach Mike Phelps?
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:17 am
Pirate fan, do you know where Morales ended up coaching? I heard S Phelps and M Phelps are related. Did they dismiss the football coach with a phone call, too? They seem like two different situations. I can only go by what you stated as I don’t know all the facts from either case, but you said Morales took his team to Nor cal finals, state championship and HAAl titles, how is that similar? Just wondering.
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:34 am
The information from someone close to the situation is that it was a small group of kids that went to the administration with some complaints about Paul’s behavior. Paul is “old school”, and likely didn’t mince words, and one of the kids (a good athlete) quit the team. His parents and (lawyer) grandpa got involved, and here we are. Perenon is a good coach, but he has been driving kids away from the program, not just with “tough love” but with an increasingly difficult personality that made a lot of kids just not want to go out for football anymore.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:24 am
Well, we won’t know all the details unless we are directly involved. There’s always rumors or someone close to the situation. I am all for tough love when it comes to sports, but you don’t want your whole program vulnerable, and this is just speculation, but supposedly it wasn’t just the bb program that drove Martin away. When you start losing studs, it makes you look to see what the issues are. Let’s not just turn this into some “whinny” kids who wanted their way.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:39 am
I agree, bbfan2. Lad at DeLaSalle is no picnic to play for, either, but he tough, fair, loyal, and consistent. It’s a whole new world now (see Leach, Mangino, etc.).
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:59 am
No one can argue with tough, fair, loyal and consistent. But you can argue with driving away talent and then not meeting expectations. All programs have their flaws but when you underachieve and it’s not for lack of skilled players, you gotta wonder, and not just talkin about the football program…..
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Exactly. This has been building for awhile. He had a small group of supportive kids, but way too many kids were quitting after JV football so they wouldn’t have to play for him. Not to say this is an easy job, though. Parents are WAY too involved, and not just talking about the football program…
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:44 pm
All the posts are relevant and it seems there will be more coming out over the next few weeks. Coach P was “old school” with tough standards and complex personality. Over the last decade perhaps longer, old school has faded. Anyone remember the Bob Dyllan song the times they are a changing. Try this adapted verse as it seems to fit in this situation:
Come high school coaches throughout the land
And don’t criticize what you can’t understand
Players and parents are beyond your command
and the old way is rapidly fading.
So get out of the way if you can lend a hand
for the times they are a changing.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Coach P is like Al davis He built an empire and now he is fucking it up. When was the last time they beat San Leandro High, 10 years old school is just not cutting t today passing the ball does win games.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Hey, I will be the first to admit that I am very involved in my kids sport. Afterall, I am concerned about his development, but I am equally involved in his academics and equally concerned about his development there. As far as old school, I have been labeled an old school parent and don’t see a darn thing wrong with that. When you’re winning, it don’t matter how “old school” you are, it’s when you’re not that you open yourself up for criticism, and that’s just the way it is. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, if it’s broke, fix it. Coaching and teaching are all difficult jobs because you can’t please all of the people all of the time. Personally, I respect my kids coach and expect my kid to respect his coach as well. I may not always be happy with what’s going on, but my kid has the choice to play or not play for any coach but it would have to be a darn good reason. It could never be because you just didn’t get along. Again, I don’t know all the facts.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Just to clarify, “too involved” means trying to dictate the amount of playing time your kid gets, what kind of offense/defense the team plays – I have heard about parents trying to run practices. They are called “helicopter parents” because they are constantly hovering over the coach, not letting him/her do their jobs.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:50 pm
I agree with Bbfan2 i dont think its good to quit just because the cooch might say a couple of things, but as i read the other messages and if kids are quiting because they dont got love for the game then there has to be a problem. WHAt i heard is that there are many reasons hes getting fired complaints, not telling kids to get better grades letting them play if they got below a 2.0 or haveing a really low grades, there were many things to it probably and for a coach to be working there for 25 years a couple of kids aient going to get hm fired. I no for a fact that there was no layer brought in by the kids they would be wasting there time trying to sue the coach for what ever people are saying. IT looks like its the opposite.
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:16 pm
i have to agree with revco on his earlyier comments the atheltic kid that quit,i was told by someone who is friends with him he said that he had allot of things going on in his life and football was just becomng more stressful and he lost interest because of allot of things and coach p was one of those things and his grandpa never got envolved. thats what my soource says
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:16 pm
“Whiny” or “whiney” from Dictionary.com – “complaining; fretful; cranky: The baby is whiny because he missed his nap.” If the rumors are true then the shoe fits.
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Yes, Steve Phelps is the older brother of Mike Phelps. I am convinced that regardless of how the student-athletes and parents felt about Perenon, the biggest issue was probably insubordination. As in the O’Dowd Administration & Board asked Perenon to make several necessary adjustments in order to continue to work well with today’s athletes. Perenon’s refusal must have been too vehement for his superiors. And I bet Roza et al reacted similarly, hence their change in stature. Good luck to both sides as far as cordial bargaining goes.
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Do your homework or just stay home. My experience with “old school” coaches is that they tend to mellow with age and experience. What was coach Perenon like 10 or 15 years ago? What history of complaints are on the record?
If the administration wanted to “go another way” they should have just said so and moved on. If the administration is claiming gross negligence or abuse, then they better have their facts straight.
After all, football is physical team-play competition, requiring strong leadership, vision of strategy and tactical smarts. Discipline with a single-minded objective is required for success. A few whiny players should not steer the course of a storied program.
Here is the unnecessary rant part: If sissyfied MTV me-first pants-on-the-floor kids cannot understand these concepts, or their “Craig James” psycho parent(s) don’t agree with the coach or direction of the team, just quit and go home. You did not do your homework in choosing to attend that private school and play for that well-respected coach. DOH!!! Don’t spoil it for others. The TEAM is better off without you.
I love a good pile on.
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:20 pm
As a former player at O’Dowd that played on the Championship team in 2004,I am shocked at the way everything is being handled at the school. Coach P being dismissed like this is a complete joke. I am tired of hearing of the players at the school like Martin who complain about nothing. There is no special treatment at O’Dowd. Some players can handle that and some can not. The players that can not tell their parents, who in turn go to the administration and say my child is not playing because Coach P does not like him. He does show tough love but at a private school where most of the students believe that everything should be handed to them. Coach P built a program that won 209 over 25 years which is unbelievable! Watching what is happening at this school makes me sick. Only a couple coachs have that many wins in northern california. In the end, I will always support Coach P and everything he did. These kids at the school messed up all the work previous dragons built that made this program so special.
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Perenon has been a top coach for some time, over 200 wins. ODOWD is losing the guy who put them on the map.
Hope he gets his day in court. If not, BHS could be a good fit. He has coached inner-city and comes from an inner-city Catholic high school, QB at St. Mary’s in the early seventies. If not, he’s a top offensive coordinator.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:16 am
My father worked at BOD for 30 years and the same thing happened to him. He and my mother started the first women’s cross country teams in CA in the early 70s (my mom taught at Presentation at the time). I don’t know about the popular sports like football, but coaching cross country only got him a small additional amount in pay over his normal teaching. It’s basically volunteer.
You notice, also, that other longtime teachers (Rosa and Rossi) were also let go. This is because they can pay some kid out of school half what they pay the veteran teachers.
So my dad turned around and sued them and won.
I wonder if BOD has to subsidize all the pedophile priest lawsuits by cutting costs and this is how they’re doing it. Funny thing is after they fired my dad, they didn’t even have the decency to remove me from their alumni newsletter list.
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:47 am
I played for Coach P in the mid 90′s and although I didn’t like him at the time, I grew to respect the man for the way he molded the team and individual players into a group of focused men on and off the field. He really did care about his players and although he’d often have some stinging words for us during a practice or at halftime of a game, he wanted what we wanted, to win. Everyone on my team had a grudging respect for Coach P and his team of assistants. I think O’Dowd is going soft in general and don’t expect the football, b-ball or baseball programs to excell much further into the future.
Also there may be a personal vendetta involved as Steve Phelps brother, Mike, was the basketball coach for most of the time Coach P was around coaching football. There was no love lost between Mike and Perenon. This could have carried over to the decision Steve made. Anyhow what is up with a school having both a President and a Principal is it that difficult a job so that they need 2 people in charge?
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:17 am
Bbfan2,
Not sure what happened with Morales after he was let go.Perenons lawyer commented that Perenon wasn’t aware of any other athletic employee reviewed in the same manner as he was, calling it a unique situation.He also said there was no rational reason for the dismissal.The similarity is you have 2 successful coaches who were reviewed and dismissed be it in different ways who were not given a legitimate reason for being let go.Maybe Morales should have lawyered up also.It’s rare that schools dismiss dedicated successful coaches, especially those whose teams are in the playoffs every year. Maybe they already have someone lined up to take over like they did in the Morales case.Good luck to Perenon.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:22 am
again, no one knows the true reasons except Coach P and the admin. We are all just speculating. Trust me, there are going to be plenty of rumors on both sides. I myself heard that most of the players that have D1 potential love Coach P, but again, that’s just a rumor.We shouldn’t assume that some players are the true reason he got relieved of his duties.If that was the case, they woulda got rid of both of Martin’s coaches when he left, but they didn’t. We shouldn’t assume anything and certainly not bash BOD for doing what they obviously have a right to do. Playing devil’s advocate, should you keep a coach around just for nostalgia’s sake?
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:37 am
thx pirate fan, i was just curious if morales went to another program. i am going to try my darndest to stay outta this one, because i don’t know the facts and I don’t even have a kid that plays football(lol)
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:41 am
Coach P couldn’t deal with the Berkeley athlete, wrong choice, Brian Hamilton, or Jordan Seidan would be better suited for the Berkeley type athlete. signing day Run Rickey Run!
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:29 am
I can say that I never really liked Perenon as a person dealing with him over the years, but had nothing but the highest respect for him as a coach and what he did for the O’Dowd program. I think people would be shocked to know the number of high profile coaches who have been on the fence with their administrations the last few years. Without a doubt, the method of operation for schools in this day of age in terms of dealing with parental complaints is that coaches are guilty until proven innocent…The number of great coaches will continue to dwindle until someone gets control of the psycho parents out there. The only friend a coach has is a strong athletic director who is a shield for the coaches…sadly, those are dwindling as well. If a kid doesn’t play, then it’s the coaches fault. I saw it at the freshmen level at Foothill last year when parents were actually yelling from the stands at the Foothill staff for their precious little kids not playing. Sweeney and Mannion would do their best to make every freshman game (home or road game) and even they took crap from some of the fans. Amazing.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:24 am
again, no one knows the true reasons except Coach P and the admin. We are all just speculating.
[snip[
Playing devil’s advocate, should you keep a coach around just for nostalgia’s sake?
—–
The true reasons? No, we don’t know, but there is a LOT of suspicious writing on the wall. Three veteran teachers, all probably making double what an entry-level coach or teacher make are let go in a very short period of time. What, they ALL just lost the ability to do the job all around the same time? Maybe not the main reason, but money typically has a role in these decisions, particularly in this economy.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:52 am
Note Whistle’s remarks about Foothill and that the parents didn’t follow through and chew out the frosh coach himself. Well, when the frosh coach’s father is one of the most popular people in the country (thy name is Madden), even zealot parents know better than to bully someone who has tremendous football credibility. It is a shame that there seems to be no majority rule in either the public and private high schools and clubs as long as there are enough extremist parents strong enough to produce an ouster.
At the same time, it doesn’t look good at BOD for either side of these likely damaging dispute.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Vertigo
against similar opponents, Odowd passed for more yards then they ran for yards. Also, Odowd was only 48 yards passing behind SL. And if i can recall, san leandro was based on running the ball.
just saying.
think moreau can catch up a little because of this development?
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Moreau’s on the way up WITHOUT this development… so i dont think it really matters…
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:06 pm
everyone assumes when a high profile coach is let go it HAS to be because the kids or parents “cried” to the admin. None of us know if that’s the case. It couldn’t possibly be performance, budget etc, right? We don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. I wish only the best for Coach P and the best for BOD.
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Alright BBfan2,
You may be right, it may have nothing to do with upset parents or players. That being said, how many high school coaches, especially with Peranon’s level of success have been let go for shits and giggles? And of all coaches let go in any sport over the last 10 years, how many have been the results of something other than parental involvement. As someone who wrote numerous stories on these issues, I can answer my second question with the following response — very few.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:02 pm
whistle, they did keep him on as a teacher, so I am just sayin’…..you could be right and I could be wrong, like I said before, we most likely won’t know anytime soon. If it was parents/players, is it possible they could have a legitimate gripe? sometimes they do, again, I don’t have a football player butfrom what I “heard” alot of kids really liked him so I really can’t speak on it.
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Are you kidding:
Think about it rationally….. The admin is not going to fire some coach over speculation and just becasue A PLAYER couldn’t play.
Has anyone thought maybe Coach P should look in the mirror and ask himself the major question of the DAY!
What could I have done to cause this????????.. How about practicing what he preaches to the football players…
TAKE RESPOnsibility and be a man for your mistakes. There are consequences and obviousy being fired was one of them…. He may have deserved all he got..But he is an adult and as adults we must except our faults and consequences from those faults and move on… He needs to close the chapter and move on……. Why stay somewhere your not wanted…………….to prove a point for what —-EGO——-
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Very interesting thread here, with some very valid points. I can’t add anything of substance, except to echo Whistle’s point that it is critical that the coach have a strong AD to support him/shield him from nutty parents. Perenon has been rubbing administration folks wrong for some time, and this looks to me like the “perfect storm” to fire him: some pissed off parents/players, annoyed administration, underperforming team (losing record with a team having 17 returning starters off a 10-2 team). Paul was national high school football coach of the year a few years ago, and probably felt invincible. High school football coach is now a very, very difficult job. I, too, hope that ODowd can find a capable replacement. It is a plum job for someone ready to take on the peripheral headaches.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:38 pm
High school coaches are not on any type of long term or renewable contract. One is hired to coach for the upcoming season and that’s it. If a coach were to be dismissed from his/her duties DURING that contract period, the employer would have to show cause.
It sounds like what has happened here is that O’Dowd has informed Perenon that they have no intent of offering him the football coaching job come August 2010. In other words, he was not “fired” and O’Dowd does not have to show cause.
Now of course, when they post the job opening, he can certainly apply for the position and he does have certain legal protections with regard to being discriminated against. But keep in mind that O’Dowd may use past job evaluations including their own to determine if he is someone they want to interview.
Getting rid of a coach is pretty simple – just don’t offer them the job next season. Getting rid of a teacher (even in private school) is not so simple. As a long time teacher at O’Dowd, Perenon has seniority and can really only be dismissed if O’Dowd can show cause (student/parent complaints are not considered sufficient cause)
Now, if at the time of his hire the coaching position was included as part of his teaching responsibilities then he could have some legal recourse. Dismissal or changing the terms of a contract with a teacher are not easy. Teachers have ongoing rights that coaches on a short term contract/stipend simply do not have.
Perenon’s lawyer will look for legal remedies. I imagine the rest of will come down to a publicity campaign where parents, students, alums, etc will all chime in with their view. Hopefully it won’t get ugly.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Might want to check your facts. by my count 6 returning starters.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:01 pm
Look if u played for coach P in the 90′s of corse ur going love him that was a unstoppable team. BUt one thing umost of u guys dont think aboiut is what about the players whi woork very hard and do have talent to play and are never given the chance to play and they do every thing they can to play. Coach P traeted those guys like crap its true from what i heard from preaviouse players, And on the passing note He has had a QB who was an great QB who can throw the ball and for the last couple of game of his last year playing football coach figures out that passing might win a game, And Like BBfan is saying that no one really nos y hes got fired and common sence would say that it is bigger then the players “more like letting players play when they had below a 2.0 which is not good maby some of you think its ok but from what i heard grades get u in to college”
There are no returning starter cause its a new coach new rules
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:33 pm
6 returning starters from the 10-2 team from ’08 on the ’09 team.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:45 pm
there are no starters returning from 09 team NEW COACH NEW RULES
everyone is equal that is a new concept
February 4th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Coach P gave balich more opportunity to pass than any other qb at o’dowd in recent history. at times in ’08 he might have let him throw too much. I never saw one situation like the one you described during my experience at BOD but i can’t talk about the times i didnt see.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:04 am
i’m not talking about returning starters for this upcoming season
February 4th, 2010 at 12:06 am
that is the point —- people knew lots of things …. but he thought he was unstopable no matter how he treated people how he treated players—- ONLY Coach P knows the real reason ….. and everyone else is just speculating…that is why it is probably bigger than we all know and typically a coach has a contract with the optioon for the adminstration not to renew – HIS TIME IS UP OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE NEW ITS A NEW DAY ………..CHANGE IS GOOD!!!especially for the kids… and they needed a new coach …
February 4th, 2010 at 12:23 am
i feel sorry for the kids because they are missing out on a very valuable experience that goes far beyond just football. hopefully they can find a good enough replacement.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:02 am
fast and phyiscal
the best coach for bhs should be a coach that beleives that a team is made up of more than one player! You can’t win at the highest level with out everyone being a part of the success.Please do not forget that johnnie superstar can’t win by himself, with that said I believe the next coach for bhs believes in using all the talent they have. “Fred Sims apply”
GO Jackets Go
February 4th, 2010 at 8:16 am
Hey Fan, it was Perenon who said he had 17 starters back. Here’s his preseason preview for this year:
O’Dowd Tough in HAAL with 17 Starters Back
Ed Attanasio
Section Sports Norcal Preps July 17, 2009
Bishop O’ Dowd’s varsity football Coach Paul Perenon has won four NCS Div. III Section titles during his 25 years at the helm for the Dragons (10-2, 6-1, 2nd in Hayward Area League) and during that time you can be sure he’s coached some great teams. When asked how he thinks this year’s squad matches up against some of those championship teams, Perenon is hopeful, yet cautious with his response.
“We’ve got enough talent to be very competitive in both our league and in our section,” he said. “With two huge Division I prospects playing on both sides of the line, a great tailback and fullback tandem, a hard-nosed defense and 17 returning starters, we’re going to be solid. The key for us right now is to develop some depth and a little toughness, both mental and physical.”
In ’08-’09, Bishop O’ Dowd couldn’t get past league rival San Leandro, losing 40-13 at home during week seven after cruising through their first six games. After winning the rest of their regular season, the Dragons beat Tamalpais 35-14 in the first round of the playoffs, before succumbing to Marin Catholic 42-27 to end their season. This year’s non-league games for Bishop O’ Dowd include Alameda, St. Ignatius and Skyline of Oakland.
Here’s the link: http://norcalpreps.rivals.com/content.asp?highlight=perenon&CID=965995
February 4th, 2010 at 8:41 am
Perenon is not well liked by the administration, other coaches and most non-superstar players. He walks around like he owns the school, bad talks the AD and does not want any other sport on his field. He makes comments in the weight room that “if there is no point to the ball, there is no point to the game”. Thus, he feels all the other sports are worthless. Admin President Phelps younger brother Mike was the basketball coach and the two hated each other with a passion.
Perenon has more players that hate the man than those that support him. How many of those 200 plus wins came against Moreau, Mt Eden and Tennyson. What is his record against teams with wiinning records? I might be wrong but I don’t think he had one win this year against a winning team.
It is time for a change.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:21 am
You new age cry baby parents crack me up. This not pop warner football were everyone gets to play regardless of skill level.High school football shoulod not ever be play kids who have less skill just so they feel good. If they are not good enough to start dont whine, find your kid another sport maybe they are better suited dance or drama ? No coach will sit talent because he doesnt like a kid period. I speak as a parent , my daughter came to me and said she wasn’t getting enough playing time during her softball season did I run and complain to the AD or the coach NO, I simply told my kid your not hitting right now if you hit you will play so AS A PARENT I WORKED WITH MY KID (WHAT A CONCEPT) GOT HER A FEW HITTING LESSON TO FIX HER SWING AND GUESS WHAT SHE WAS IN THE STARTING LINE UP WITHIN 3 GAMES . So to all you fair weather I pay my tuition parents who dont have time for there kids becuase they are to busy watching TV do all the sports programs a favor and SHUT UP!!!
February 4th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Bleacher Coach, I agree with you. But your argument does not have to do with Perenon being fired. He just pushed himself around too much and was not a role model for his players. End of story.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:19 am
the bottom line ——-
look at your responses WHO CARES WHAT WINS HE HAD HES A CRUMMY COACH HES OVERDUE TO HAVE BEEN FIRED HES LOST CONTROL OF HIS PLAYERS HE HAD
HE JUST NEEDED TO BE GONE AND HE IS THERE IS NOTHING THAT WILL PUT HIM BACK ON THAT FIELD EVERYONE NEEDS to get over that—-
he was this and that the man was an argigant SOB and he cared only for the W He lost sight on the true meaning of football and the reason he started to coach. He lost sight of being a real human being to those players GOOD BYE and welcome to the new coach who ever he or she may be
February 4th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Look being a coach u play the players that will help u win the game if u got a kid who my not be a superstar but does everything right he should play how do u not agree with that yes if u are not a athlete then sure u aient going to play but if u are u should be able to play if u winnng by 30 points or loosing by 30 points if u disagree with this wel then im srry but thats just common sence
February 4th, 2010 at 10:51 am
I can personally attest to none of that being true. He is about doing things the right way on and off the field and giving all that you have no matter what you are doing. It was never about wins and losses. I’ve seen him more upset after a 21 point win than a 6 point loss. He has done more to better the lives of not only his players but countless other students to go through O’Dowd than probably anyone in the schools history. We all understand he won’t be back it wouldn’t make sense after what the school has done.
February 4th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Fan…he has done more to drive some kids away from playing football and moving to lacrosse, basketball and baseball. Give him credit for broadening the student athlete as they got to play for coaches that not only win but treat their players with respect.
What has he done for the countless lives of students? Give some examples.
He takes good care of his stars but is a SOB to everyone else.
He will have his spot in a hot place and it is not heaven.
February 4th, 2010 at 11:16 am
He must have been very generous about counting starters then because 3 of the five offensive linemen were seniors, a senior fullback, two senior recievers, martin left the school (two way starter) 3 seniors on the d line and 3 more in the secondary.
February 4th, 2010 at 11:22 am
All the comments about players time and scoring REALLY DOES THAT MATTER?
NO NO NO
Hes gone Hurray hes an SOB the school did the right thing FINALLY and does not matter what he did the kids are much BETTER OFF WITHOUT A SOB AS A COACH.
They want to repect a coach they play for There were not too many that respected Coach P for anything!!!!!
HE DUG HIS OWN HOLE AND BURRIED HIMSELF
GOOD BYE PERENON GET A NEW LIFE
February 4th, 2010 at 11:44 am
Areyoukidding,
Is your handle the line that you used when complaining to an AD or principal? Did your ride the bench for Coach P or was your non-superstar child affected by Coach P or a similar coach? Is that your fingerprints on the shovel? Just curious…hmmm.
February 4th, 2010 at 11:51 am
I’m glad he hired a lawyer to fight a one year coaching contract which expired. All coaches are year to year. This way there can be publicity about what a SOB he was and how many kids actually look at him as there worst experience at O’Dowd.
He could have quietly retired after a losing season and not beating a good team all year long. But being who he is, he could not retire quietly. Now let the world know that the man that won 200 plus games and was NFL coach of the year 11 years ago was not even deserving of being a Pee-Wee football coach. Run left, run right. For a private school that takes from local public schools, try comparing them to DLS or Bellarmine. A joke. He is a joke and time to be laid to rest.
February 4th, 2010 at 11:52 am
The kids that didn’t respect him are the kids that didn’t put the hard work in and didn’t buy into the team. They got upset because he was tough on them and told them the truth and what they needed to hear not what they wanted to hear, which he did to every player that went through the program the guys on the field and sideline alike. He didn’t sugar coat anything and i thats what you’re calling an sob than i guess he is one. But if they had just put in as much effort as they could and cared about the team first they would have got a lot out of it but they got caught up with thinking he was mean and didn’t realize he was pushing them to be the best person they could be.
February 4th, 2010 at 11:57 am
There are ways to motivate and ways not to FAN. Do you think that making players wear their helmets in the hot bus for an hour after a loss as he chews them out is tough love? No, he is a cruel SOB. (By the way, this happened after a mid 2000′s loss to Castro Valley @ Castro Valley).
February 4th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Maybe they had a mediocre season because the few whiners brought down the morale of the team. Perhaps the coach could not cut those players due to tuition considerations and his only recourse was to bench non-performing whiners.
As previously stated, if the coach was so obviously horrible, then the parents/players did not do their homework in choosing to attend O’Dowd. After all, it is their choice where to attend, and their choice alone. Choice does not mean running a successful coach out of town, unless he is guilty of gross negligence or malfeasance, and I have not read any such claims or proof.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
I have no handle to AD Its time for your reality check——HES A HORRIBLE COACH
HES A HORRIBLE INDIVDUAL
HES A SOB GOOD BUYE AND HAVE A NICE LIFE
IT has nothing to do with the kids do you not GET IT WAKE UP A HAVE A CUP OF JAVA
HE DESERVES EVERTHING HE IS GETTING ,,, THERE IS NO RESPECT FOR A MAN WHO ACTS AND TREATS PEOPLE THE WAYS HE DOES…..
February 4th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
HE WAS FIRED BECASUE OF HIS PERFORMANCE NOT THE KIDS OR ANY PLAYERS
HIS PERFORMANCE AS AN INDIVIDUAL
BEING A SOB GOT HIM FIRED
February 4th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
If you’re talking about 2004 I think those players respected him because they went on to win an ncs championship.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Look theres players u started for coach p that hated him who thought he was a Ahole tons of players did whats wrong with change there s nutin wrong with change and he didnt get fired cuaes of complaints he got fired cause its bigger then the kids. Coach Lad at DLS s always getting complaints but he doesnt get fired cause he listens to the ADMIN he makes grades important being close to god is more important then football and he never disrespects players he yells buts never disrepects players and hes old scholl and he is highly respected coach p didnt care about grades.
And fan did coach p get u into a college or something dod he change ur life around
February 4th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Let me set the record straight:
1) Mike Phelps and Steve Phelps are BROTHERS (interesting huh?).
2) The Phelps scandal was crazy (true or not?).
2) Mike Phelps and Perenon never got along(at least when I was there in the 90s).
3) Perenon is old school, but was always fair.
4) Wearing the helmet home after a lost game was a great trick to make you own your mistakes in the game.
5) There is no crying in football
6) There is no crying in football
February 4th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
HEY PAYDIRT:
You are being ridiculous Parents pick the school for the academics not the sports, if they have great sports too its a bonus
Kids who go to odowd want an education….
So your comment about the homework on the school yayayayayayayayaya…
The reality of it all no one cares…HE WAS FIRED BECAUSE HE AS AN INDIVIDUAL WAS A SOB TO EVERYONE………HE LOST RESPECT AND HE NEEDED TO BE GONE DONT DWELL ON SOMETHING THAT YOU PERSONALLY CAN NOT CHANGE MOVE ON WE HAVE ALL OF US HAVE OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH NEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 4th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Perenon deserves everything he is getting now. His Athletic Director is a jerk himself and after he cleans house of all the coaches, he will be fired too.
The AD cannot drive his golf cart straight if you get the drift. This battle will be interesting to watch play out between the red nosed AD and the stuck up SOB football coach.
Phelps came from SI and why do they need a President and a Principal who came from a public school. They seem to clash. But one thing is that they won’t take lightly a football coach who thinks he rules the school and them.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
agree with Harkanewday on what he says
Paydirt and Fan get off coaches nuts
February 4th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
He was never bigger than the team. Always said it was our team and the players would determine how the season turned out. He did care about grades. Mandatory study halls and he even went to the school to get tutors at them. He had every players gpa and whoever wasn’t cutting it in the classroom had more conditioning after practice. I would have gone to college no problem without him but I know people who might not have and did.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
really he did thats why most of the starters had below a 2.5 and he still played them if that was DLS regardless if u a starter or not u wouldnt play that didnt matter to coach Lad, Coach P ur a superstar ur grades arent good but u still starting dnt make sence
February 4th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Vertigo,
I see where you are coming from and it is not pretty. Another loser. TRUE.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
thats y he got fired
February 4th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
You said it yourself FANS..LOL.. If they had problem in the classroom they got more conditioning after practice. How about taking them off the team until they got their grades up.
You said it yourself….it is all about football. Make the struggling student run.
He is the king of all SOB’s and Satan will be welcoming him with open arms and then make him run gassers until he pukes.
February 4th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
lol hahahahahaha Harkanewday that was funny but ur right grades first u cant get into colllege if u aient got the grades so that was the major problem thats why its bigger then the kids
Paydirt u agreeing or being sarcastic lol
February 4th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
from the class of ’09 all the seniors graduated and are at school right now so i guess they did have the grades
February 4th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
so u can stake ur life on that none of those starters had below a 2.5
February 4th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Fan if ur star had below a 2.5 would u play him ur say hay u can play if ur grades are better
February 4th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
So fan states that all the 09 football players are at a college because Coach P got them there ….lol
what colleges and how many scholar ships AND WHY DOES IT MATTER
THE COACH IS GONE AND HE WILL NEVER STEP ON THAT FIELD AGAIN AS A HEAD FOOTBALL COACH ….
HORRORAY……
February 4th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
I bet Coach P will be back sometime soon.
February 4th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Trust me, O dowd is not going to get rid of a coach who has coached at the school for 25 years if they don’t have a valid reason and I doubt this was just a sudden thing. This coulda been going on for a couple of years, we don’t know, and like I said. Sometimes there’s time for a change, and just from the feeling I have been getting, it had more to do with the friction with admin than with anything. Most parents choose O dowd for the academics. The difference between O Dowd and some other schools, most of their athletes are going to college regardless of whether they play a sport, that’s just a fact.
February 4th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Bbfan2 u are correct
February 4th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
I can’t wait to see his former NFL alumni coming out to support him. What a frigin joke. He couldn’t even get them to pony up enough money to sport turf the field but they will probably come out and say how he changed their lives. Oh, the tears are streaming.
The administration would not want to get into a public battle unless they had ammunition and believe me they have it.
He got his swan song….a losing season and a kick out the door. See ya.
February 4th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
I bet Tarik Glenn won’t say too many nice things…. If I remember correctly, Perenon use to run his fat rear end everyday to make him get in shape. Oh wait, maybe that got him into CAL and then the NFL. Tough love is good for football. And, If I remeber correctly, Perenon liked the kids that worked hard, not just the superstars. We use to have a few squirt white boys in the secondary that Perenon loved because they were tough and went 100%. Scrappers. So, regardless, its all about perspective. Maybe the younger generation needs a different mentoring approach…. Oh well, Coach P is a good guy, no matter what happens.
February 4th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Finally. This has been going on for numerous years. The file cabinet full of complaints against him can no longer be ignored. For all these years, the administration has done just that (ignored) due to the success of the FB program and the attention it brought to BOD’s other sports programs.
Somewhere along the way, he lost sight of what it was all about. He verbally abused players, coaches, staff and trainers. He ruled by intimidation. It was all about, Perenon. Yes, some players will say he was “good to us” fearful of of what may happen if they said otherwise.
There have been so many potential players who left the fb program after JV for fear of him. Some just didn’t come out because of his reputation. One may say, they didn’t want it badly enough…or wise decision. He usually treated star players with the same amount of disrepect as non-starters. The players thought they had to just “suck it up”…
This will be interesting to see just how much of what really has been going on with this man will be revealed. Probably not anymore than the statement the school has posted on their website. Hopefully, they can release him from his teaching contract as well. What staff wants this guy around? Now, BOD can get back to being one of the most exceptional high schools in this region on both the athletic and academic fronts without this grown-up bully. He’s reign as coach is finally over.
February 4th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
BOD Alum,
Well said in #94. As an Alum, you understand the situation and have a reasonable perspective. It seems like you went to class and received a quality balanced education at BOD, unlike the hating ranters on this string. No-lol.
“Tough love is good for football.”
February 4th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
He may be a good alumni but that is not what git him fired……..
Keep it all perspective….. He is a SOB and deserved to be fired Hes not nice hes a——–
You can not keep sticking up for him what he did 6 7 years ago is not what he did 3 2 1 year ago.. Hes an arogant sob and deserved his walking papers
February 4th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Tough love is also not what got him fired COACH PERENON GOT HIMSELF FIRED HELLO
STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR THE SMALL MINDED MAN
February 4th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
i never said anything about a 2.5 and that he got them in college just that every single one graduated and are attending a college and he made sure that every player on the team was at least that level. what’d he do in the last 3 years thats so different?
February 4th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Areyoukidding your so dumb. You sound ignorant. And it’s obvious your a HUGE hater. So keep being a hater, because your just motivating him more. Who is the SOB now???? It’s obvious that your an modern day product of Bishop O’Dowd high school because you don’t get it at all. Thank you to everyone understand the great man Perenon was at O’Dowd and will continue to be. These spoiled kids don’t get it. Who has the small mind now???? HATERRRRRRSSSSSS
February 4th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Today’s youth has no idea
February 4th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
I was a member of the first NCS Championship team at O’Dowd in 1997. A few observations on Perenon:
1) I did NOT like his tough love approach at all
2) I was a starter, but not a super-star by any means. He seemed just as tough on me as he was on any other player.
3) Every player on our team received recruiting letters from colleges. EVERY ONE. From the top studs to the lowest of the bench warmers, whether they were Ivy League students or Community College bound. These letters were delivered to Coach Perenon and he distributed them at team meetings. The only way this could have happened is if Perenon was distributing our information to the appropriate institutions.
4) I eventually went to one of the schools that contacted me through one of these football letters. It was a school I never would have even known about if not for Perenon’s help.
5) I am a college coach now (non-football) and while I do not employ Perenon’s tough love tactics, I do now recognize that he was critical to setting me on a successful path in life.
6) Players, parents and administrators may not appreciate his approach, but for over 2 decades, Perenon has been instrumental in developing boys into men.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Former BOD Parent has it all correct. The administration finally had some balls to stand up to this man and say see ya. He isn’t going to be hired at any other high school guaranteed. He isn’t going to get a letter of recommendation from his prior employer.
A new era has dawned at BOD and the tyrant has been slain.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
The school has been trying to get rid of Perenon for years. Just since this guy Phelps has been there, they made two tries to fire him. Both times, he threatened to sue them. They backed off both times, but kept building a case, interviewing alumni, parents, and coworkers. This time, they have him. That’s why they went public. Perenon is an ego maniac and anyone who ever knew him saw that. For every former player who says they like him, there are 10 who are glad to hear the news. His reputation inside the coaching world is bad too. He won’t get hired by anyone with a good program. I’m happy that he’s getting what he deserves. Good ridence.
February 4th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
HORRAY HORRAY HORRAY – It is like that song which was sung in the wizard of oz
“Ding dong the wicked witch is dead”!!!!!!!@ instead Ding dong the Perenon is GONE>>>>>>>>>
YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
February 4th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
I wonder if they took the football office plaque off his door. LOL
February 4th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Or better yet, asked him to move to the broom closet to make way for the new coach.
February 4th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
As a correspondent, I’ve covered BOD many times. My observations are is that P knows the game and might be a bit arrogant, but so are a lot of coaches. My biggest issue with BOD was always the amount of cursing on its sidelines, P included. If you are a Catholic school, there should be a standard of classiness and Christian character to your operation and I might be old-fashioned, but I think when coaches are swearing like sailors, it shows a definite lack of character. I don’t know why P was fired, but I wish him the best as I do the new coach at BOD whoever that ends up being.
February 4th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
“Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering!” Yoda.
For the haters out there, and you know who you are, learn from the master Jedi. Stop being a hater.
February 4th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
And it was obvious Paydirt, that Perenon found comfort in the dark side. The administration used the force against him and fired his as.
February 4th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
He won’t be there after the end of the year. He’s too proud and arrogant to take the humiliation of being busted. He’ll pack his whistle and clipboard and go ruin some Pop Warner program. In ten years, no one will even remember his name.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
It is also a fact, that Perenon will never never never go on that field again as Coach of anything except his pe class. Make sure he still has a whistle…..
These people are not Haters, THEY ARE YOUR REALITY………….
THAT BEING SAID- THE REALITY IS PERENON IS OUT FOR GOOD AND ITS A GREAT
THING!!!!!!!! he needs to retire—-so long fare well ……………….you know the rest………
February 4th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
Harkanewday, sounds to me like you played for Coach P or at least wanted to but couldn’t sniff the field. I don’t want to start a verbal war with you, but I just want to know what he did to you to make you hate him so much. You obviously know a lot about the program and school, which is why I’m sure you are close to the program. Who knows, you may have even played with me. Your complaint about wearing helmets on the bus after a loss being cruel is complete pussy BS. Come on dude, football is a tough sport and if a kid is going to complain about that, they don’t deserve to play football. I guess some people like to play for “players coaches” because they can’t take hard work and being criticized for making mistakes. The guy may be an ass off the field sometimes but he is a very good football coach. Oh, and playing week teams over the years? You’re going to tell me that the old ACCAL of the 90s was a week leauge??? You’re crazy. It’s not his fault he got stuck in the BS HAAL.
I will admit that the AD not driving his golf cart straight was pretty funny.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Every coach takes a different approach to get the most out of their kids. In all sports I had coaches who were verbally abusive at times and I had coaches who were much more low key. I never saw Perenon coach, but I know successful coaches who swear at players all the time who don’t get fired. Now if the administration felt that this was not upholding the Christian ideals of the school then I guess they have just cause for firing him. But for those of you who are bashing the man for other reasons maybe you should read the quote from Mario Brown who said that Perenon turned him into the player and STUDENT that he is today.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
I’m sure he didn’t get fired for swearing. And those who say that swearing doesn’t have a place in a Catholic school, obviously hasn’t met some of my old Catholic priests!
February 4th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
For every Mario Brown, there are plenty of others who the man humiliated. He was a cancer and his bad attitude finally caught up with him.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Mario got where he is today becasue of his own efforts and hard work……Mario deserves better than that ….. Mario worked hard and was rewarded for his efforts
certainly not Coach Perenons….
The Trooth is right–Perenon was a cancer and he has finally been put to rest……
February 4th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
I disagree, for every complaining chump who couldn’t stand getting yelled at on and off the field, there are hundreds of former players that would step up and praise the man. By your post, I can tell you never played for him. It’s always easy to criticize from the outside!
February 4th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
oh yeah were are they …….not interested nor does anyone care his time is up and dragon for life you need to get a new one…..No one is complaining they are all telling factual events
do you not know the difference?
February 4th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
I did play for him and I’m happy he’s getting the boot. And I know lots of guys who feel just like me. He coached for himself and was a liar and a phony. His assistants were what made that program what it was, and I can tell you that plenty of them hated him too.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
I did play for him and I’m happy he’s getting fired. And I know lots of guys who feel just like me. He coached for himself and was a liar and a phony. His assistants were what made that program what it was, and I can tell you that plenty of them hated him too.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Factual events? I’m not hearing reading or hearing any, not from the BOD admin nor from this thread. And don’t give me the helmets on the Bus BS. Do you have factual events?
Let’s face it, after coaching over 1000 kids, not all of them are going to like him. But I guess it only takes a few to make a big stink.
I actually think Perenon is kind of a prick off the field, I’m just sick and tired of guys like you bashing him without giving any reason besides, “He’s a cancer” or, “he yelled at my kid and made him run.” Maybe it is his time to go, just give the man some respect for what he has done to that program. He and his family have put hard work, money, and love into that program, which in turn has done a lot for that school over the last 25 years.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
TheTrooth, you must have sucked. lol
Actually, wouldn’t it be funny if we were buddies and didn’t know it. I do have some friends that aren’t his #1 fans. Either way, you can’t deny that he has been the backbone of that program for the last 25 years.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
And please don’t tell me you’ve played for him recently, because everyone knows that the last few teams have been filled with a bunch of soft kids who had NO heart.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Coach Shaw, coach Sanchez, and the others who were there during my time were the backbone. Perenon got all the headlines, but those guys coached us. We always knew they cared and whenever Perenon would lose his mind and start swearing and cursing at one of us for nothing, the assistants were the ones to tell us not to let it get to you. One more thing. I have two close friends that played at De La Salle. Coach Ladouceur is loved by almost everyone that he coached there, and he never humiliated his players like Perenon. The guy was a jerk and he got what he had coming.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Besides Dragon 4life—– your probably the sissy—- people are not whining about their kids have you not heard or read anything—–
HES AN ASS, OK WHAT HE DID FOR THE school and money is not
AGAIN WHAT GOT HIM FIRED NO ONE HAS DISCOUNTED WHAT HE HAS DONATED
ITS HIS ARROGANT ASS THAT PEOPLE HATE ITS THE WAY HE IS TO THEM NOT THE MONEY HES DONATED AND WHATEVER THAT WAS DONE BECASUE WE ALL ASSUME HE WANTED TO GIVE ——-
UNLESS HE DID THAT OUTOF OBLIGATION TO SOMEONE……..
The BOTTOM LINE FACT IS THAT HES FIRED HES GONE AND ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY
SO GET OVER IT…….MOVE ON TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER…..
February 4th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Areyoukidding, first off, I can’t believe you used the word sissy. Good job bringing that one out, lol. Second, I can tell you are yelling because of all the caps you are using, good job, calm down. Third, who the hell can understand what you just wrote. You obviously did not go to BOD, your grammer is the shits. Oh, and you still didn’t give me any factual information.
Thetruth, I respect your opinion and feel that when you played for BOD, it was a different time, with different players and coaches. Everyone did not like him, that is a fact, but I feel that players that hold a grudge as big as you, did not enjoy their football experience playing as a Dragon. That’s to bad. Good luck in the future.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
I was directed to this site by a friend of mine who knew that I have some professional insights into this employment issue involving the long time BOD FB coach. I am directing my comments to the public who frequent this blog. These are a few of the “for sures” that I know: the coach is to be evaluated in writing after every season by the lead athletic administrator (Athletic dept handbook); the school has a policy (school website Student-parent handbook and Athletic department handbook) to direct all complaints (student-athlete or parent) to the coach or teacher before the administration becomes involved and actively follows through; players complete an anonymous coaching survey prior to the end of the season, designed to give the coach feedback and not designed to be used as a leverage for removing a coach or a teacher from their position; growth plans can be designed as a result of the coaching surveys; athlete coaching surveys are to be administered and monitored by an athletic administrator; non-players and non team members are not to complete athlete coaching surveys; athletic administrators are expected to observe practices on a routine basis (in the same manner that academic administrators are expected to observe classroom teachers); there is a strict policy governing parental involvement in athletics at Bishop O’Dowd (Student-Parent handbook, Athletic Dept handbook); any formative or summative document placed in an employee’s (coaches) personnel file must be acknowledged by the employee and copied to the employee before it becomes a permanent document in that file; any type of complaint (such as from a parent), done in writing and intended to be made part of the file, must follow that same protocol; coaches contracts, though for one sport season per year, may become viewed, after being extended to a coach for a number of consecutive years, as an implied extension (unless, of course , there is documented evidence, from a supervisor or administrator, to make the contract “conditional”). Now, here are some points of information that I know “for sure” regarding the recently dismissed coach: he was head coach for 25 consecutive years (two losing seasons – 2006,2009), 15 consecutive appearances in the NCS playoffs (1995-2009); 3 NCS titles (’97’98 and 2004); 8 league champiosnhips; Team grade point averages ranging, in years, between 3.15 and 2.8 (at O’Dowd!); 14 National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete-Citizen scholarship award winners; growth in the football program from 2 levels and 50 players to 3 levels and as many as 122 players (2009 3 levels, 116 players); over 90 players committed to play on either the varsity or junior varsity level for 2010 – before the coach was removed from the job; 1985-2009 over 100+ players receiving athletic scholarship awards to play football in college and numerous more players receiving grant in aid to attend college and play football at non-scholarship colleges and universities; a legion of loyal alums and former parents who routinely return to campus to visit with their coach, attend school events, participate in fund raising activities (student financial aid, field turf, field lights, locker room renovation, classroom renovations, renaissance campaign, golf tournaments, crab feeds, night of champion events) and want to give back to the school out of respect to their coach and the experience at O’Dowd. I also know that the coach feels that he has,in a sense, let down those players who do not end up having a positive experience on varsity or who stop playing after 9th or 10th grade – JV level. But, he also understands that the game of football is not meant to be for every kid and that there must be an investment made by the kids to prepare for the game and sport of football. The numbers of kids playing has stayed consistent over 25 years and is usually larger than most of the teams O’Dowd competes against – whether in league or in pre season or post season. I also know that this school was predominantly a basketball only school when he assumed the position of head coach in 1985. This coach changed a culture (in the face of tremendous adversity) and was instrumental in motivating the other sports at O’Dowd to grow and develop and feel “important” in this once- basketball only environment. I am also aware that the growth of the school’s student body rose in direct relationship with the growth of the school’s football program in the late 1980′s through the current time (over 55 freshmen played football at O’Dowd this past Fall). I also know that this coach was at the heart of the field turf project, the field lighting project and the locker room renovation project – all projects done to benefit the entire athletic department and student body (not just football). I am also privy to the following: this coach has never been evaluated in writing by his immediate supervisors nor has this coach been issued a written complaint from a player or parent or had an alleged complaining player or parent directed to him as per the school policy) – #95 – where are those cabinet drawer full of complaints you reference or do you have them at your place of residence or employ? I know that this coach follows the school policy relative to academics, grade point averages, eligibility and he has been proactive in providing study time and study environments for his teams for years; I know that the teaching staff values his efforts to monitor the players study habits and behavioral expectations (I have seen their emails and notes of thanks to him); I am aware that some players have left the program and that some players do not stay in the program after JV year. I am also aware that players leave such schools as DLS, St Mary’s, Serra,James Logan and other top notch programs. They all have their own stories to share. Schools such as O’Dowd, et. al are not suited for every kid and every agenda. I also know that some kids ACTUALLY COME TO O’DOWD TO GET A GREAT EDUCATION and PLAY FOOTBALL FOR THIS COACH (in spite of what #77 above “Areyoukidding” seems to believe in) – two recent transfers into O’Dowd were from Oregon and Hayward/SLZ and a transfer for last season former NFL/Cal player Hardy Nickerson’s son (wonder what Mr Nickerson’s thoughts are?). I also know that this coach as kept a consistency amongst his staff for years – tremendous men who provide the structure and coaching discipline for a long run of success – what other programs in the esat bay have been in the NCS playoffs and in contention for league titles for over two decades? (DLS, James Logan and Foothill are the only other Esat bay schools besides BOD to qualify for NCS for 15 straight years – look it up). The debate will go on; some will argue their point, with or without first hand evidence, the facts. This coach has been empowered to coach and mentor the young men at O’Dowd for over 30 years. He constantly places love of team, respect for accountability, time management, effort, passion and commitment as the foundation pieces for the O’Dowd FB program. The players who truly get it leave the program as O’Dowd graduates as better human beings, more prepared for the challenges of the real world, with a healthy understanding of how to compete and earn what they accomplish, connected for life to their teammates (like them or not) and with the skill to be productive leaders in their community, at their workplace, and for their families. Just ask them.
February 4th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
#117 “areyoukidding”: You must not read the newspaper or the Esat bay Prep Corner blog. Check out Mario Brown’s quote in the Tony Gonzalez story on Fukofuka and Brown signing their scholarship letters of intent. It sure seems like Mario Brown respects hsi coach.
February 4th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Dragon for life
1. I am very well educated
2. I guess I will try not to use to large of words for u
1. Being a SOB
2. Disrepect to players and to the AD
3. Disrespect to the parents, to grandparents
4. How about- Verbal Abuse –
5. How about misleading players…thinking they are going to get full ride scholarships when they are not……
6. How about false and misleading information about recruiters coming and never showing up……….
I am sure after 25 years plus the above information may have pages behind it…. Heres one
factual- he made players scared, he was a bully, he was not a coach players wanted to play for.
You can be a great coach, even with a firm hand, But you got to know when enough is enough……..He did not know when to stop …………
the fact I used the CAPS:
Reason:
TO MAKE A POINT. THAT POINT- Perenon IS GONE AND WILL NEVER RETURN… THE END
February 4th, 2010 at 11:42 pm
#130 areyoukidding:
What is your evidence that the O’Dowd coach …
1.was a bully? remember, has to contain observable evidence with names and situations – who did he bully, when, you actually saw it – yes? if so why did you not report it to the school immediately? You said it is a fact – prove your point with absolute evidence.
2.what is your evidence that this coach was disrespectful to the AD? do you have first-hand, actual presence experience to support that claim? again you saw this disrespect?
3.what players – names,please – did this coach mislead players about scholarships? you were present when this coach was misleading players? or did you “hear” about it – kind of like “Who shot Johnny”? who was promised a full ride and did not receive one?
4.what recruiters did this coach promise to have come to the school that never showed up? again, names please?
both of the recruiters and the players that were “mislead”
5.which players do not want to play for him? what is your evidence? hearsay only works at blogs and he said/she said rumor mills.
You present yourself as one who has an inside beat on the O’Dowd program … makes me wonder who the real SOB is – hiding behind a handle on a blog ripping a coach without revealing your identity – where I come from that is referred to as cowardice
February 4th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Coach P can be abrasive and he’s got an ego – he likes complete control… but many successful people are like this.
He could have got more out of certain players by using less negative and more positive reenforcement. He could have been more imaginative in calling plays/schemes and could have given more responsibility/ownership to players and other coaches. He could have done more to improve his relationship with Administration.
These are all fair criticisms.
But saying he’s an arrogant SOB and you hate him over and over again is just unsubstantial babble. If you have insight based on experience, great – if not, then quit repeating yourself.
Coach P gave everything he had to the program.
He was tough.
He expected his players to be mentally and physically tough.
He was was harder on star players than everyone else… if you’ve ever run gassers on Monday you know who got an earful if they didn’t bring it.
He expected each and every player to give their all and perform up to their potential.
Some kids can’t handle criticism.
Some kids don’t like to be told and driven towards what they need to do to.
Some kids don’t like to work hard and be pushed beyond their limits.
These are character flaws; weaknesses.
It’s not intramurals – it’s high school football.
Weakness/lack of mental toughness leads to blown assignments, blown plays and losing games.
Coach P may not be the most likable guy but his players respected him. I sure as h*ll respected him when I played for him and still do.
Every year there’s a few undisciplined whiney babies who don’t want to play for Coach P.
Then there are the kids who buy in, give their all and are rewarded with a tremendously fulfilling experience.
I still get chills when I think about the moment before home games when we huddled up in the weight room before charging the field.
Coach P was probably the most influential person in my life before college. He taught me to show up on time, be a leader, work hard on the field and classroom, don’t complain, don’t give up and be a good person. I would not be where I am today w/out him.
Long live Coach P.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:11 am
More interesting dialogue on message board of norcalpreps.com
February 5th, 2010 at 7:50 am
Story of the Day:
Perenon has always been known to yell at his players and intimidate the average player. Kind of funny coming from a man that was part of the St Mary’s High School Football team but hardly played. In fact, his nickname was “Clipboard Perenon”.
I guess he got started coaching in high school since he couldn’t find his way on to the field. One might tell the man to remember his roots. The only clipboard he is going to carry now will contain Pop Warner plays.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:23 am
No one on this blog knows exactly why his contract was not renewed. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. The players etc that had a horrible experience are entitled to feel the way they do and the players etc that had a wonderful experience are entitled to feel the way they do. Hopefully Coach P and the admin can move on and this doesn’t turn into more of a circus.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:01 am
As a former football player and coach, I think it is misguided to think that a coach can’t be tough and successful. Football is different from other sports. It is a physical challenge unlike the other top three sports, and it requires a level of discipline and teamwork that mandates a strong personality at the top. Clearly Perenon’s success was based largely on his ability to lead young men. His problem seems to be that he crossed the line from strict disciplinarian to arrogant prick. I have no problem with tough practices, harsh words (yes, cursing – get an ear full of any current popular rap song – these are big boys), wearing your helmet on the bus (c’mon, are we really that soft that you would call that cruel?), or even being aloof to parents (the coach’s job is to coach, not coddle parents). His real weakness at this point was that he was driving away football players from the program. Right or wrong, some concessions need to be made to the contemporary high school athlete. You need to take an interest in your players, and that means from the time they commit to football as freshmen, and earn their respect and loyalty. Clearly, from the posts on this thread, Paul did that in the past, and with some current players, but was not doing that well enough with the current crop. I hope they can find another tough leader to replace him – not an easy job.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:14 am
I, too, can offer some first hand views of this situation. I am been around BOD athletics for the last fifteen years and had two kids (girls) play a sport at the school. I have been present at not only FB practices and games but at all sports practices and games during that time period. I can tell all of you that Coach P is fair, consistent and welcoming to all the kids that play varsity FB. His discipline structure is very simple: be on time, be dressed appropriately, be ready to practice and play AND PLAY and PRACTICE HARD. Those kids that are late, not dressed appropriately and lack effort (are lazy, not perssonally motivated, do not want to do what is required of them at FOOTBALL practice) are the ones who get called out by that coach. He is a big TEAM FIRST coach. Yes, there is accountability and there are consequences, just like in real life. I have observed other sport coaches at BOD. The current baseball coach hollars and yells way beyond what I have observed from Perenon. the lacrosse coach’s language makes Perenon look like a saint. Even the girls’ basketball coach is salty and profane with the girls at practice and in the games (not to mention how the previous girls’ basketball coach conducted himself). I have observed FB coaches at other schools. Coach Carter from berkeley should come and watch Perenon to learn how he should conduct himself. The FB coach at St mary’s, the same.
The ex coach from Hayward and the guy at Foothill all go way beyond what I have observed from Perenon. How about Shag? Bottom line, the BOD coach demanded a high level of expectation from ALL of his players. His assistant coaches, for the most part, stayed with him for long periods of time and left only because of upward opportunities at other schools or work/family matters. Again, I speak from first hand experience. While I am here, I am wondering: did The Trooth or Harkanewday really play for Perenon? and if your experience was that negative or unpleasant did either one of you communicate your displeasure with him or have your parents communicate with him (not some administrator)? And don’t say he wouldn’t listen. I know better. My only regret is that I have girls and they did not have the opportunity to play for Perenon. What a gift he has been to generations of teenagers.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Revco-
Having your players wear their helmets in a hot stuffy bus for an hour as a punishment for losing is hardly soft. Why don’t you go into a bus with hot sweaty players where the air is tough enough to breathe and put on a helmet.
Coach P was a tyrant and is FIRED.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Harkanewday, PLEASE, stop being a pussy! I’ve been on that bus and wore my freaking helmet, it wasn’t the end of the world. It was not harsh enough to where I needed to run home and complain to Mom and Dad. I played high school and college football and trust me, my coach in college was no Mary Poppins, but I loved all of my years of competitve football. Not sure why you think it’s so “cruel”, maybe it’s because you never played real competitive sports. He may have been an Ass and he may even deserved to get removed as head football coach, but PLEASE, stop dwelling on the whole helmet on the bus thing, it makes you sound like a little girl!
February 5th, 2010 at 9:50 am
I won’t go into a rant about “back in the day”, but suffice it to say wearing your helmet on the bus is no more uncomfortable than wearing it on the sidelines in the hot sun for two and a half hours at a game (or during two a days during the summer). You shouldn’t be playing football if this is “cruel”. If you want a coach who passes out orange slices and makes sure everyone plays who “tries hard”, you should try another sport….(sorry, that was a cheap shot, soccer…;-). By the way, you seemed to have missed the point of my post, which agreed with you…
February 5th, 2010 at 9:51 am
I also have a feeling that all the people who are bashing the guy so badly are those who either played for him and never saw the field or are parents who’s kids never saw the field. Get over it, you or your kids weren’t that good! I guess we’ll just have to see where the next takes the O’Dowd program. Remember, this is a coach that averaged over 8 wins a season for 25 years. I’ll bet there are very few programs that can say the same thing.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:57 am
I get the feeling that his players from the 2000 decade dislike him a lot more that his late 80s and 90s players, which is interesting. I’m sure he did become more of a prick as time went on. I can honestly say that he wasn’t that bad back then, maybe the complaints started to pile up a lot quicker as of late. Either way, it still sucks when people bash him for the wrong reasons. I learned and grew alot during my 3 years of playing for him, and love him or hate him, he played a large part in my love for the game of football. If you played for him and did not get that experience, I’m sorry. I’ve never said he deserves to stay on as coach, I just hate to see people bash him who have no idea what they are talking about.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:06 am
REVCO
Again, I am around the school alot. You are misguided in your thinking. Perenon is not driving players away. The numbers are solid. Squad size is fine. The majority of his players like him, respect him and play hard for him. No coach is ecer going to get everyone to like him or buy in. He and his staff were able to keep the interest level of this years team on task (that is, those kids who really want to play in a competitive program). The team finished the season well and gave a very good Alhambra team fits in the NCS. You should have been with those kids on the field after that game – truly emotional, physically spent, they played their butts off and represented themselves well. Too bad more of the kids on the roster did not want to be FOOTBALL PLAYERS. Those kids never bought in and they never will buy in no matter who the coach is when the goals are playing with passion, playing to your full capability with heart and determination. It sounds to me like the school and some of you blogging want a non competitive, intramural style program so that “everyone goes away happy” and everyone plays regardless of their talent or their commitment to the team (CYO style). Just give them a jersey, put them in the team picture and give them playing time. Doesn’t work, never has, never will. Look at St mary’s and Moreau. (Both tried that apporach and it has set both schols back decades. Moreau had to get out of the HAAL and SM plays in a soft league and now has only two levels of football. It took bringing in a wild man this year to get them respectable. See what happens next year). Wow! The end of BOD FB as we knew it … I wonder if current parents of football players and upcoming parents want their kids to be in a playground recreational football program where success, a winning record, competition and real development of players in the sport will be compromised by the “everyone has to play” approach? Good luck making it work. Watch the exodus of football talent stream out of BOD and with it tuition paying families. Believe it or not families came to O’Dowd so that their sons could play for that coach in that program. They will now go elsewhere. Your blogging will turn to: “What happened to football at O’Dowd? They need a coach with discipline.” Sad day.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Well said BODFAN. Like I said before, we’ll revisit this subject in 3 years and people will be wondering what happened to the program. Over 8 wins a season for 25 years, need I say more? There are always going to be kids and parents who are not happy and there is no way he could have please everyone. Even the greatest coaches in College and the NFL had people and players that disliked them.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Stop and think. Do you really think that a coach of 25 years would be fired without just cause?
February 5th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Yes. Read from #31 above and read the Tribune article announcing Perenon’s dismissal. There are multiple employment actions currently in place against this school and administration. Open your eyes up folks. There is something bad going on at BOD.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:24 am
see my post #132.
I agree with BODFAN.
Harkanewday/Areyoukidding/other Perenon haters – did you actually play for Perenon? I doubt it. What specifically did he do to you that makes you hate him so?
He was a strong, scruffy personality and misunderstood by many but he was a good head coach and a good person.
Moving a young boy to a disciplined unselfish team-first young man is not an easy process. Coach P provided the structure for this and did it successfully for 25 years.
If you take a poll of former players, not all will like him but 99% did and still do respect him.
Coach P is a good man. I am thankful for everything he did for me and my teammates. I am a better man for having known him.
I wish him and his family the best.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Interesting thread… and important discourse and why it’s at 138+ and counting.
Coaches who use questionable tactics to motivate (helmets on, cursing, run laps when a mistake made) simply lack the desire or intelligence to be the best “coach” they can be, IMHO. I’ve worked on this a lot for eleven years while coaching- and making my fair share of mistakes which required my further education- and it literally takes less time to learn several techniques from the web than it will take to type this out.
Plenty of motivational strategies for todays youth (yes, the same ones who listen to the iTunes explicit versions and old school NWA for you 90′s grads!) exist to which kids respond really well to (see Positive Coaching Alliance or responsiblesports.com) both as individuals and members of a team in ALL sports- that includes football. (BTW, want to see boys becoming men? Go check out some HS rugby.)
A parochial school official hearing profanity?! From an adult? A teacher? First time some Hail Marys, second time….DONE. Discipline has to start somewhere, especially for a football program establishing a sense of order and respect for young men who have huge challenges outside the campus (see Oakland games postponed blog.) Profanity should be non-negotiable based on their faith oath when they are hired. Ask around, it exists. The thread indicates BOD chose- and it is a choice- early on in this regard from what is posted, to ignore it, so there’s plenty of blame to pass around here, let alone blatant hypocrisy for a faith based institution. Profanity use by adults- especially as an attempt to motivate high schoolers because THEY drop the eff-bombs with each other with ease when adults are out of earshot- is a lazy excuse for not knowing BETTER methods for motivation. A school teacher should KNOW, or at least learn to be, better. Isn’t that what he/she does for a living? To those who need it most, kids? Teaching, learning, mentoring, leading, showing respect to gain respect? If a teacher does not know HOW to best movitate, and it is clear from posters that is one issue here, then some remedial education is sorely needed. There’s plenty more useful information for the taking out there on how to curb negative reinforcement (helmet debate) as a motivational tool. Successful and well respected coaches, no matter how they go out- winning record or not- find those tools and implement them. I see the posters not as “haters” of the coach or program, rather just trying to enlighten when given the opportunity.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:38 am
Well stated Razor88Flood. I agree with you: 99% are in his corner and still support him. But if that 1% gets the ear of the administration, look out. That is what is happening at BOD. A few kids who have parents with money are rocking the boat and getting what they want: no expectations for their kids, just show up and play. And, for gods sake, don’t hold my “little Johnny” accountable.
Wonder what will become of these soon to be men. Scary.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Nice blog #148. Regarding this situation with BOD coach, I observed him numerous times in recent years directing his assistant coaches to curb the swearing, etc. and when he himself did slip up, he would immediately apologize for it. Also, rarely did individual members run laps or have consequences when a mistake was made. Most of the consequences were for team rules infractions such as being late to practice, meetings, film sessions or coming to practice without ankle braces or having ankles taped. At some point there must be accountability in a team sport. This BOD coach is positive, rewarding and FAIR. And, his teams play hard and win, the right way. I was there to see it.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:58 am
If any of you knew the man like I do, because I know him better than anyone commenting on here. You would see why he is the way is. Did YOU put in effort to get the know him? And I will correct, I cannot remember who said for every 1 person who likes him, 10 more hate him, you are really wrong. The perception of hard-work and accountability is extremely jaded with today’s youth. I just finished my 4 year career in a division I sport. My strength coaches, and team coaches cussed, yelled, held us accountable, everything that Coach Perenon has done throughout his career. In the meantime, yes it does suck to hear things that you do not in the moment, but I guarantee that when you are finished you will be thankful, such that I am to have been able to experience something that so many people A) cannot handle and B) Are not able to do. And although it is just high school football. Perenon has created tradition and made that program into an snippt of what it is like at the next level and more importantly, what it is like in the real world. So you can make one of two choices. You can continue to bash a man that and his ways of running a program and gain absolutely nothing from it, or you can look at yourselves in the mirror, and really dig deep and figure out how you want to function in this world. Do you want to be successful? Or do you want to be soft? I would choose the first one.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Some interesting stuff here. Chs1012 you make some interesting points. But it’s mostly theory. PCA is okay. I have been at some of their stuff. Mostly grammar school, young youth sports oriented. HS is a different beast, especially HS varsity FB. Stakes are higher. More on the line. Don’t really know O’Dowd coach but suspect that someone is out to get him. 25 years, winning record, keeps program competitive, most of the bloggers who have played for him support him. Something smells fishey here.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
I was a kicker at BOD and I absolutely hated Coach P. He mocked my other sports teams and made me want to quit football although I stuck it out. I disagree with you. I think there is a 50/50 split of those that appreciate his coaching and a 75/25 split for those that wish he would get fired.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Many of you softies/haters don’t understand Coach P and many of you don’t get football in general.
Football, even at the high school level, is very different from other sports.
You must be disciplined.
You must work as a team.
Every player on the field must execute their assignment or the play will fail.
It is violent.
It is full contact.
It is against human nature to hurl your body full speed into someone else.
It tests your character.
It is the closest thing we have now in the real world to battle.
You must be fearless.
You must have courage.
You must commit fully to your teammates and yourself.
You must listen to your coach and do as you are told – even if you don’t agree.
You have to play hurt and with pain.
You have to learn to be a warrior.
You cannot give up, no matter how tired you are.
It is not easy to get young men to subscribe and commit to these ideals.
Not every young man can become a fearless, unselfish warrior.
A successful program needs a strong personality at the top to teach these things to players.
Coach P was that person. He did it for a long time.
Coach P is a great man who had a tremendously positive effect on thousands of young men.
He is an icon.
His legacy is not the wins and losses…
His legacy is the thousands of young men who have grown up to be sucessful students, fathers, husbands, coaches and people in this world.
BOD owes a tremendous debt of gratitude towards Coach P for everything he has done for the school and the football program.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
gettin donuted against st.i losin to not very good teams like san lorenzo,skyline, come on they tied alameda who aint very good plus a predictable offense that features one player wats the complaining about? perenon lately has not been competetive when he plays quality teams. o’dowd should be way better than they’ve been.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Yes Bill Johnson…good points.
Didn’t they get massacred by SI by over 40 points?
The man just gets strong players and says run north. HA HA
February 5th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
without getting into an argument about the merits of coach p’s methods (old school v. new school), in order to evaluate whether it was a successful program, one must objectively review the numbers…
every year BOD has between 50-60 freshman boys that come out for football (I think 60 this year, similar to DLS, SI, etc.)… by the time they are seniors, on average, the number still in the program is down to 10-15 (I think only 10 this year)… that’s an unacceptable attrition level for a flagship sport at a major private high school that considers its football program a calling card… a multiple of the attrition level at other “successful programs”…
either the coach needed to change… or they needed to change the coach… looks like the coach made the decision easy for them by refusing to change…
life moves on…
February 5th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Post #153 by Punting, you were a kicker, nuff said!!! Shut up and stop bitching. Sorry to tell you this but kickers aren’t real football players. You should have quit, because there were probably 20 other real players on the team that could have done your job!
February 5th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
So, now HS FB coaches should be fired because the teams do not do as well as some outsiders think they should? That would mean great HS coaches like Silviera at Alhambra should have been canned because they missed NCS play offs for a number of years? or Sweeney at Foothill should be fired because they have not won NCS in a bunch of years? Hey, that guy at Bishop O’Dowd has his team competing on a yearly basis – one down season and it’s pile on him? I saw them play twice last year (2009). Young team, fragile QB (who he got a lot out of, by the way), moody superstar running back (who he kept coaching into a scholarship), lack of experience in the offensive and defensive lines; young defense that gave up POINTS every week; and they were in every game except for the SI game; Yeah, i know, fix it by canning the coach; by the way, they were better off without that ego kid martin that bolted the program; Cal and Tedford: beware.
February 5th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Hey Punting if you were the punter in 2009 I would advise you to work on your skills. I saw you in two games and you need work, kid. How was your preparation for the football season? Did you work on your skills before the season? By the way, did you ever talk with your coach about your feelings? Try it, you might feel better.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
cant believe im sayin this but billjohnson i agree with u
i wonder if all the perenon supporters are the ones that was star players and more than likely the ones that got scholarships, sounds like the non stars hated him, even dragon4life admits he is an ass, maybe its some truth to some of the things people have said on here,from what i heard over many many years is he is an A hole, even though i had to laugh bout the helmets on after the game, that was kidda coldblooded, i feel bad for laughin at that. i coach sports also and never wish anything bad on another coach, so good luck to the man on his next coaching position
ps he might want to take a year off from coaching and self examine himself
February 5th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
If Perenon was such a great coach how come Calcagno got the chabot job over him? He would have been gone long time ago if not a teacher.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
In response to #158
I played frosh and jv football at O’dowd and had Coach P as a teacher in PE for 2 of my 4 years at O’Dowd. He showed a vested interest in every player and student. As a freshman, he would ask me how the Frosh team did the week before, listening out for who was passionate about the game, and who he wanted to look forward to having on his Varsity team down the line. He approached me personally when I decided not to pursue varsity football and asked me if I was sure it would be the right decision for me.
He leaves a legacy at O’dowd that will not be repeated. Just because someone pushes you to be your best does not mean that he was an a-hole. I’ve met much worse people down the line as I’ve grown up, especially in college and afterwards. Life isn’t supposed to be easy and Coach P knew when to push and when to talk to you.
As far as the helmets on after the game, that was simply a tradition made to make the players learn that the game did not end after the final buzzer. You wore your helmet as a complete part of your uniform and you did not take it off until the game was done. Taking off helmets, in Perenons mind, indicated sloppiness.
Just to point out, ODowdBooster, it doesn’t help our case for you to badger Punting like that. This is a forum for discussion, not aggression. And no SLPirate24, not every person making a comment here is a superstar athlete. We simply respect the man and his legacy.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
I am like BODFAN, around the school sports program and at most games. Been a supporter for over a decade. Watch practices, games. Listen to chatter from kids, parents and talk with coaches in all sports. Post #156: numbers can be manipulated to fit any cause (and your numbers are not accurate). My impression is that your numbers for freshmen playing football is high. Maybe that many come out for freshman team, but do not finish the first few weeks of practice, let alone the entire season. Many are experimenting with football for the first time and find that the game is to their liking and eiher quit before end of season or don’t re up for JV. Blame the frosh coach!
My impression is that the largest numbers drop off at BOD between ninth grade and tenth grade. My observation is that the attrition level at BOD is similar to other high schools with a similar enrollment. Also kids still get pressure to select one sport (basketball, baseball and soccer with year round programs). I know that many freshmen and sophs at BOD get the message from outside coaches and club/AAU to play year round in one sport so that they can be recruited by college scouts. How many football players are on BOD varsity basketball team or varsity baseball team or varsity soccer team? What is the attrition rate in other sports at Bod from grade 9 to their senior year? It also appears to me that the numbers of kids playing FB this year, even with a small senior class, was up from previous years, even going back to the mid 90′s. I agree with BODFAN, from what I hear and see kids and parents are still coming to BOD to play football and mention often that the varsity coach is the drawing card and attraction for them. BTW, DLS gets over 100 frosh out for football and must cut. My understanding is that BOD does not cut players.
The reality is football is not a sport for everyone and it is tough to play if you don’t like hard practices and demanding, disciplined coaching (I see it at all levels in Fb at BOD). Frosh coach actually yells and is more personal than varsity coach. JV coach played for varsity coach and is just as harsh and demanding. Varsity level is higher risk, higher reward. Post #152 says it right: varsity football in a competitive league is a different beast. Players must be prepared for it.
I disagree with Post 156. BOD coach has balanced his varsity roster well for the decade or so I have been around. In NCS playoffs every year; last ten years 1 league title, 5 second place finishes, 1 third place finsih, and 3 fourth place finishes; NCS title in 2004. Lowest enrolled school in HAAL. Face it, kids lose interest, don’t want to be committed, are not up for the challenge, don’t want to put in the time over summer months to be able to compete with SL and others on schedule.
Too easy to blame the coach. I hear kids talk all the time. Many want to get a jersey, be in team photo, but clearly say they will do as little as possible when it comes to working out and being committed. And the parents. Don’t get me started on that topic. Hard work, excuses and parents who coddle their kids do not mix well in competitive sports programs, especially in football.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Two more comments:
For areyoukidding: my hunch is that you are either a former player who could not handle the challenges of competition for playing time and quit (blame the coach, of course) or you are a frustrated parent of a kid who quit because he didn’t get his way so let’s dump on the coach. Did you, maybe, work behind the scenes to get him fired? I really think I know who you are.
For Harkanewday: FYI Perenon was a finalist for the Chabot job in 2000, before Calcagno left SL to go to Chabot; Chabot hired an assistant coach for the position
instead of Perenon; An ex-Chabot admin told me they made a huge mistake in not getting Perenon the first time. Maybe Chabot should try to hire him now. Contrary to some opinions his offenses are teaching great schemes currently in use in the college ranks and above; O’Dowd players who move on to college comment that they have been well prepared to compete. I have heard that same comment from many college recruiters coming through the EBay.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:09 am
A Coach, and I mean every Coach turns a corner in his career. Before lies two paths, one is well trodden and very familiar to him, the other is coarse full of ups and downs and blind corners he they cannot look around. The Paths are change. The change of the school admin people was not sudden, losing seasons, getting into play-offs with a 4-6 record, please let us be serious. This Coach could have looked at the program, and instead of being an instrument of change and betterment he chose complacency. He spoke about the use of the Spread a number of years back being a mistake and He taking responsibility for it. He went back to his comfort and old ways. Maybe what he should have done was broke down the system and found what went wrong and then fixed it, looked at the Staffing and made adjustments, or let someone else call the offense because it was not working under his tutelage.
Penn State and Papa Joe, even at his age, two years ago, Papa Joe sent his staff to Mack Brown in Texas to learn the spread, this Giant in the College ranks understands change.
BOD needs that now, 25 years is enough for any Man, but it´s time to look forward and move on. Step aside Man, allow a new coach to start to rebuild and don´t get in the way if your still at the school, don´t offer advice, don´t give your opinion and tell the kids to listen to the new guy in charge, if you can´t do that get your buy-out and go somewhere else.
February 6th, 2010 at 4:11 am
RAZ AMEN!
February 6th, 2010 at 7:43 am
Let me get his right. Post 162 RAZ: Losing seasons? 2 in 25 years; tried Spread a few years ago, did not work at that time (talent not suited for that offense); adjusted to what had been effective (you say that is complacency); went 8-3 and 10-2 next two seasons; struggled last fall team still scored points and moved the ball in all but one game (defense was the problem in 2009, offense put up points); he made staff adjustments such as new o-line coach, new DB coach and bringing former pro player to staff. He adjusted offense late in season once QB and others became consistent; team played well late in season. My view from being around the scene is that 2009 team was young on experience (especially in o and d lines where HS games are usually won), lacked veteran leadership, had commitment issues from a handful of kids, struggled early, lost close games (which they usually won in other years) the team played well once coach and staff got buy in from younger talented kids. Sounds like what happens in most every high school program (except DLS!). Hey, even BOD basketball program suffered through some down years last few years. Back on top now, though. Talent sure helps. hard to argue with those 2 soph boys. No doubt Perenon and staff would have
BOD back on track, just like he has done throughout his career there. Now, not so sure about BOD future. Unlike most posts on this blog I have been around the school and programs. My points are drawn from being there. From my view THE COACH IS NOT THE PROBLEM. I agree with other posts who question the integrity of the decision and who/what is behind it. Things don’t add up.
February 6th, 2010 at 10:15 am
If you have been around the school then you know that the coach needed to go….His way of 10 years ago iss not the way of todays football programs. Look at DLS Program, look at SI program they have first class programs. Whenyou go away to games or when thet came to our school, how did those kids act, they were all dressed nicely in sports coats, and Kache, and our players did not even look like that. Coach L at DLS requires it, every High School requires it, even on seven on seven they all have matching uniforms, shorts and t-shirts but all look alike—— Something our program has lacked…. Our program suffered class, Our progam suffered discipline, our program suffered respect for players, coach and he as the head coach lacked all respect for the AD.
The new coach Im sure will bring a new era, a new class act…..
February 6th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Football is a business, whether its HS , College or Pro. You win you get rewarded you lose you feel the consequences.
I will admit that I too was surprised at the firing of this Coach, but then again it happens all the time.
The Coach may not be the problem but his departure is seen as a solution. You only have so many bullets in the gun, eventually they are all gone, he shot his.
But, their are a few things that trouble me and seem to to be answered. As a Coach one feels responsible for his players, the better they are the greater that responsibility gets. In 2008 a Chris Martin, left BOD. His excuse was he wanted to Graduate early, so as to go to Norte Dame for spring ball, the following season. He supposedly had set up some school on the east coast that would allow him to do this, so he could participate in spring ball and be enrolled in school. Well he ended up in Colorado did well and then changed his mind and will be a Cal. Fine, but when this occurred, why did not this coach step in and say, “This is Crazy”…apparently this kid is being fast tracked, probably by parents who smell NFL money and want him to be a Junior in less than three years. He enrolls in spring 2010, he is eligible in spring 2012 for the NFL draft, because he has three years in, his Kid will go to classes that the school puts him in. Why Cal, because he got the promise that he will be playing his 1st year, therefore 2012 release and NFL bonus.USC and ND did not give him that green light, they have to many players and can wait. My question again is why did not this Coach give his opinion strongly against this? THis may be a small BS point, but it bothers me greatly. What is the Mission of BOD? If its sports, ok, but that is not what the Fathers and Brothers intended to be.
February 6th, 2010 at 10:39 am
I have been around the school and I disagree with areyoukidding. From what I have observed BOD players have classic uniforms, travel to road games already dressed in uniforms. I have never seen visiting football teams arrive at BOD in anything but their game uniforms, put on shoulder pads in locker room then go to field for warm up. I have never seen any football teams show up in sports coats on game day. I have not attended summer football games, so can’t comment on what other teams wear. But I have seen some summer HS basketball and most teams are not in school uniforms during summer games.
What I did see was BOD players competing hard, respecting officials, not getting numerous misconduct penalties, showing sportsmanship and fair play and overall respecting the opponent year after year that I have been around. I have never seen the coach receive flags on him or his staff (unlike what I have seen at some other local schools). I saw the coach immediately remove a player from a game for nonsense stuff and misconduct penalties. I will say it again from my view THE COACH IS NOT THE PROBLEM.
Question: areyoukidding: are you an unhappy player or parent? If so did you ever speak with the coach about your unhappiness or just complain to school officials and then rant on this blog?
Hopefully, coaches will keep coaching knowing that they cannot please everyone nor make everyone happy.
February 6th, 2010 at 11:01 am
To RAZ post # 167: Even a HS sports fan like myself knows that some parents are over the edge when they smell the possibility of a big payday and basically pimp their kids. As one who was around O’Dowd a lot i watched the Martin kid go from a team player, productive kid in his soph year to a player who disconnected himself from his team and was on his own agenda the next year.
How do you know that Coach Perenon did not step in and attempt to guide the kid and his parents? My view is that Martin was extremely difficult to handle after he got all the press, went to his head and I observed the behavior of his mother in the stands during games. Way out of control. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that martin was developed as a football player in HS by Perenon and his staff and that he, I believe, quit the basketball team before leaving the school. The grass is always greener. He should have stayed in a program that has a track record of producing division 1 talent and that is respected by college recruiters nationally. Hopefully, that will remain the case for the kids there now and to come in the future. I don’t believe it was like that at O’Dowd prior to Perenon being the coach. Time will tell.
February 6th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
What does chris martin have to do with anything- he left and got a full rde to cal He did not get there becasue of Perenon……
It does not matter what anyone else says good or bad about the coach
His era is now considered History———–
It needs to stay there– Out with that old monded mentailty and in with the new
OH Yeah by the way Dragonpride if the team was so repectful and disciplined by Perenon– Was his discipline and control on the field the day they played Hayward?????????? NOT EVEN FOR A Minute He lost control of his own team….respectful to the school nope ………. I bet you forgot about that one thats ok
At the end of the day– it all does not matter this blog these comments becasue the COACH HAS BEEN FIRED AND WILL NEVER RETURN!
February 6th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
OH YEAH AND GOOD JOB CHRIS MARTIN YOU ARE ONE OF TWO THAT LEFT AND GOT YOUR FULL RIDE WITHOUT PERENONS HELP!
February 6th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Yeah this is a tough situation. I mean Coach P is a polarizing guy no doubt about it. He certainly is one those old school coaches who pushed us to our limits but I never thought that he was unjust or malicious. He certainly was not as popular as some of the position coaches. He could be a tough SOB but coming back and coaching there and at other places I quickly learned that it is not only an incredibly difficult job to coach and mentor young men but to also manage a program and deal with parents. Other sports coaches and teachers certainly were not always fond of him but I think that comes from his competitive nature (and gruffness) and the nature of what it takes to run a successful football program. He certainly also turned off young men who probably physically could have played football and been very good by his tough tactics. I feel like O’Dowd has changed significantly into a kinder gentler school where more traditional practices have been or are being cast aside. That is kind of the way of the world now, you cannot treat young men like men. You have to do more babysitting of the players and the parents. P was old school who always instilled toughness but more importantly maturity and responsibility. He made sure players were accountable and those lessons have resonated with me off the field. Additionally, he truly was a teacher as well and ensured academics always came first. If the school feels like they want to go in a different direction it certainly is their right, but given the man’s lifelong sacrifice for the institution I feel it should have been done in a more honorable way. He certainly has a lot of alumni support and this could really hurt O’Dowd’s rapport with them. Given the publicity now I do not know how this can end positively for either side.
February 6th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Enough said, “The King is dead. Long live the King who ever he will be. Death comes to all Tyrants as well as Saints, nothing escapes the grasp of time and the calling that was and “His” will that always was planned before us.”
In Honesty, I myself, wear the mantle of “Coach”. I have pride in that title and respect and adhere to the ethics of the position. We are responsible for our youth and those who fall under our auspices. We can damage or encourage that wonderful youth to greatness in what ever choice they endeavor, or we can cause damage that sometimes is irreparable.
I hope I have not offended anyone in my opinion, if I have please except my apology. To those who have agreed. I ask them to forgive and forget, and look beyond and appreciative the work of this Coach of 25 years he has earned that.
Thank You
February 6th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
154 – this sounds like soccer!
You must be disciplined.
You must work as a team.
Every player on the field must execute their assignment or the play will fail.
It is violent.
It is full contact.
It is against human nature to hurl your body full speed into someone else.
It tests your character.
It is the closest thing we have now in the real world to battle.
You must be fearless.
You must have courage.
You must commit fully to your teammates and yourself.
You must listen to your coach and do as you are told – even if you don’t agree.
You have to play hurt and with pain.
You have to learn to be a warrior.
You cannot give up, no matter how tired you are.
February 6th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Heard from another coach that there are already 30 resumes for the job. Pretty quick. I’m sure one of them is more qualified that the current ex coach.
February 6th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
I was on varsity Fb team at O’Dowd last year and played on JV team year before and frosh team year before that. I did not get much PT, mostly a few plays a game and some special teams. I respect Coach P and so do most all of the players on varsity team. He was tough on us, very demanding, but FAIR and HONEST with every player on team.
Some (not majority on the team) did not like it, complained all the time. Went to admin behind his back. EVERY PLAYER ON SQUAD HAD A CHANCE TO GET PT. Those that didn’t either found their roles or basically quit on the rest of us and complained about him and other coaches. One kid who did not come out when practice started in August was always saying things to us like “you watch, they’re going to fire Coach P after this season” and things like that. That kid was a trouble maker and spoiled mama’s boy who always seemed to get his way. I am disappointed in the school not having Coach P back to coach us this year. Many players have signed petitions for coach P to come back. Next year senior leaders have tried to talk with principal and athletic director.
The majority of us new to var last year had a hard time adjusting to var fb. But those who were into it and cared about our team found out that he and the other coaches were right and knew what they were doing. We could have been good next year. But it is really messed up now without Coach P and the other coaches. The guys I talk with (most of the juniors and seniors for next year) want the school to change its mind and bring him back. WE WANT OUR COACH BACK!!! HE LOVES US AND WE LOVE HIM!! You are wrong areyoukidding. You don’t speak for me or the majority on the team.
February 6th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Perenon is a jerk but I hope that he can leave the school with some dignity. He probably will have his lawyer with him and this will turn into a public relations circus.
February 6th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
RAZ You blog like you have inside information on the BOD FB program and you id yourself as a coach. Where do you coach? What level? What sport? Maybe you want the O’Dowd job and are supporting the removal of the BOD coach. Have I seen you before on the O’Dowd campus? I watch a lot of practice up there – all sports. You made previous comments about Martin in another post. You appear to have a lot of inside info. Hopefully you are not a parent of an unhappy kid or coach at the school backstabbing Coach Perenon. That would be gutless and contradict you wearing the mantle of “coach”. Ethics? Come on, dude. No way.
All you critics read this and think:
The galleries are full of critics. They play no ball, they fight no fights. They make no mistakes because they attempt nothing. Down in the arena are the doers. They make mistakes because they try many things. The man that makes no mistakes lacks boldness and the spirit of adventure. He is the one who never tries anything. His is the brake on the wheels of progress. And yet it cannot be truly said he makes no mistakes, because his biggest mistake is the very fact that he tries nothing, does nothing, except criticize those who do things.(from general David Shoup)
In my fifteen or so years around BOD have seen Coach Perenon be a doer, show boldness, be encouraging, make mistakes and own them. Just like a good role model should.
BTW post #171 is right on. He says what I, often, saw. Thanks ODOWDPLAYA for having the courage to tell your story.You should be proud!
February 6th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
I say read posts 5, 16, 29, 32, 63, 67,71,76,102,113,128,131,132,137,143,147,154,162,172 for the big picture look at this situation. Those posts provide the most objective information and probably give readers and critics more than enough to go on. Coaches will always have those participants who had positive experiences and those who did not. Just the way the competitive world of sports goes. Coaches cannot please everyone, especially teenagers. But I am reading of the on going consistency in this program under this coach.
I’m a bit bothered with posts that support removing a coach aftr a couple of down years or becaause , in someones eye, they don’t seem to “change”; don’t know what that means. I researched O’Dowd’s recent records. Team won 10 games in ’08 and I read where #1 QB missed last 5 games and they won 4 of them; won 8 games in ’07 and had a down season in ’09. NCS roster shows young team in ’09. Had over 40 on roster. Not many other schools in playoffs show more on play off roster.
February 7th, 2010 at 12:20 am
Harkanewday, leaving with some dignity? After 25 years of service, regardless of what a small percentage of people think of him, he deserves to leave on much better terms, PERIOD! He has served the school, it’s sports program, and it’s students well, and deserves much better than this. There are only 2 coaches in the bay area that have run more successful football programs in the last 30 years than Perenon, but yet, he’s a “jerk” he deserves to be fired? Get your head out of your ass and stop being such a pussy! You have yet to answer whether you are a former player who never played or a parent who’s kid SUCKED. I’m willing to bet anyone that you are one of the two. Leave it alone and show the man some respect, he was and still is a very good high school football coach, regardless of what you and a few others say.
IF YOU NEVER PLAYED FOR THE MAN, I THINK YOU SHOULD KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, BECAUSE YOU DON;T KNOW ANYTHING.
February 7th, 2010 at 12:44 am
Dragon4life, I recommend not responding to idiots such as harka-blah-blah and the other haters. They are self-absorbed negative extremists with zero common sense who have never understood discipline, respect for the game, or chain-of-command: 4F by every standard of excellence and not worthy of intelligent response. If I were an O’Dowd alum or fan, I would be totally embarrassed by these extremists’ irrational behavior. Thankfully, I do not have to deal with these hating wimps. Bart Simpson has a higher IQ. TRUE.
February 7th, 2010 at 7:43 am
He is gone. Live with it. He probably was fired for a reason, don’t you think. It would make sense that it was insubordination given his ego.
If you are so sure that everyone wants this man back, put up a poll on the site with everyone allowed to vote once, and he will get over half that want him gone.
February 7th, 2010 at 7:45 am
And Dragon4Life, I was a starter that never came out. I went on to Division I football so shut your 40 IQ mouth off.
February 7th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Harkanewday, I don’t believe a word you say. You continue to bash this man and haven’t said anything about what he did to you. Did he lock you in a broom closet??? You say you were a starter and went on to Division I, but never mentioned that in any of your other 25 posts. It is so easy to say that you played, started, went on to the next level, blah, blah, blah, but in my opinion, you’re a jackass. If you played for P, then you most likely were part of a winning family, where they take care of each other. You try to blame everything on Perenon, but I have a feeling that the problem is with you. Get some balls and expain why you hate him so much.
February 7th, 2010 at 10:40 am
Oh, check out the Support Coach P facebook page. 700 members in a week! I guess the man is hated by everyone, huh?
February 7th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Wont change the outcome HES STILL FIRED FROM COACHING
February 7th, 2010 at 11:40 am
DOES NOT MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON FACEBOOK, PREP, THIS BLOG WHO SUPPORT THE OUTCOME IS STILL THE SAME
HES OUT HES OUT HES OUT HES FIRED
February 7th, 2010 at 11:44 am
GET OVER YOUR SELVES YOU ARE NOT CHANGING THE SCHOOLS MIND BECAUSE OF ANY SUPPORT
ITS OVER FOR YOU FOLKS REALIZE IT WELL MAYBE YOU MONT UNTIL THE NEW COACH COMES AND COACH P HAS TO GIVE UP HIS OFFICE
MAYBE THEN YOU FOLKS WILL REALIZE HES TRULY HISTORY
February 7th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Note to self, ignore the ignorant haters: ignore #174, ignore #175, ignore #178, ignore #179, ignore #180. lol!
Go Colts!
February 7th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
NOTE TO SELF_____Ignore people who do not accept REALITY
COACH PERENON WAS FIRED HIS FIRING WAS DUE TO HIS BEHAVIOR
COACH PERENON WILL NEVER BE A HEAD COACH AT BOD AGAIN
NOTE TO SELF—- PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING REAL
NOTE TO SELF—– ITS TRUE COACH PERENON WAS FIRED
NOTE TO SELF HES GONE YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
February 7th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
BY THE WAY PAYDIRT
NOTHING YOU SAY WILL CHANGE THE REALITY
HE IS NEVER GOING TO COACH AT BOD AGAIN
THAT IS A GOOD THING THAT IS TRUTH FACT THE END!!!!!
February 7th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
OH YEAH WERE NOT IGNORANT ITS JUST THE FACTS
COACH PERENON IS GONE GONE GONE GONE NEVER TO RETURN
February 7th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Note to self, continue to ignore the ignorant haters: ignore #182, ignore #183, ignore #184. lol! again!
Go Colts!
February 7th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
The real question is who is the next coach gonna be? Tough act to follow either way you slice it he did underachieve but achieved non the less. His last 2 seasons were really how his whole 25 years went. 10-2 then kind of an off-season that should have been way better. WHo’s going to O’dowd? Do they have to achieve better then Perenon on the field or is the administration happy with 5-5 with no problems?
February 7th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Many of you get it, a few, like areyoukidding and haranewday, don’t. I am a parent of current O’Dowd FB player and want to share some points.
1. my son struggled with Coach P and football, but ultimately got it, understands the coach, competition, what players must do to become players and he is heartbroken over coach P’s dismissal and is upset with the small group of parents and players who got to the administration to do this
2. I know who areyoukidding is. You are ruining a great program and the chances for the players who want to be good and be coached by the great staff we have had at BOD. You are selfish and teaching your kid (who quit last year) the wrong thing. I heard you often at games you attended try to get unhappy parents to go to admin to get coach fired. Why? Because you didn’t get what you wanted. When the boy transferred in last summer you went nuts. Why? Because he played same position as your boy. And the transfer kid looked good.
3. I was asked to meet with admin to discuss Fb program and refused because I heard it was a set up to get coach fired.
4. My son, as most of the boys, understand Coach P and believe in him and staff. FB is tough, competitive game. he teaches discipline, and many life skills that kids don’t get elsewhere. The real world is competitive.
5. Teach your son to compete and EARN his way. Money can’t buy everything. Although is appears at O’Dowd that money and whinny parents can get a coach fired.
6. I know what coach and his wife did for your son last spring and summer with tutoring and school service project. You should be ashamed of yourself. Your actions are ruining a great program for many, many boys.
February 7th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Perkin
His career at O’Dowd has not been up and down. Last year was only one of two losing seasons.I disagree with you. Team last year was inexperienced in both lines and young at DB, LB and WR. QB coming back after injury. And a group of kids who did not want to put in the time or effort. O’Dowd teams are usually consistent, play hard, score points, tackle well play clean and compete and, yes, win far more often than they lose. His teams have always finished at or near the top in leagues and NCS even though opponents at SL and Hayward and CV and in NCS usually have better talent and athletes. SL takes great advantage of Pop warner program.
School has changed. More parents are there who want something for nothing (grades and sports). I have noticed this since priests left a few years ago.
Much credit to Coach P for keeping FB competitive even with different kids in the mix. He would have them back competing for league next year. Kids still interested. Good numbers coming back. I heard from some kids that huge turnout showed up to sign up for 2010 in December meeting. Who knows now, though. Talk among returning players is they don’t know reasons for coach leaving and don’t understand why admin pushed him out. Even though FB is tough, they like playing for him (except for areyoukidding and haranewday lol). Apparently admin will be happy with an average program. This could hurt enrollment in the future.
February 7th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
A gaggle of assistants and head coaches applying for the BOD job. A few HAAL coaches have applied, one of the DLS assistants is high on the BOD short list.
Several Coordinators from beyond the Tunnel (DFAL and EBAL) have thrown their hats into the ring, excellent coaches from the 24 and 680 corridors.
Two coaches from the BSAL have applied, one former BSAL coach and one current one.
If there is a teaching job with the head coaching spot, that will be one thing, but without a teaching job, what will BOD do? Will they simply create a new postion, weight room coach, study hall teacher?
I do not see this job getting filled before March 1st.
February 7th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
fuck o’dowd
February 7th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
I disagree with the teams in the HAAL have more talent then O’dowd thats just not true. O’dowd even this year was huge. Nice skill athletes. I like coach Perenon. But man in his offense he couldn’t get #8 the ball enough he was a pretty good player.
As far as underachieving look at the 10-2 season. Great talent everywhere but who did they beat?? They went up against SL & Marin & couldn’t even compete. Look at how many D-1 & NFL players come out of O’dowd. I think that school is 2nd or 3rd in the Bay Area & your telling me that Perenon didn’t underachieve?? His NCS championships should have been in the 6 or 7 range with the talent he’s had. Take this years game against Alahambra. Athlete for athlete your telling me ALhambra was better then BOD?? NO. Haywards line was small. Didn’t have more speed then O’dowd & we’re talking this year. I was at both games so I’m not talking 2nd hand info.
February 8th, 2010 at 1:01 am
NO NEED FOR THAT KID OF LANGUAGE– OBVIOUSLY YOU MUST BE RELATED TO THE FIRED COACH
SHAME ON YOU HOW SMALL MINDED ARE YOU! NOW WHO IS WHINNING….
February 8th, 2010 at 1:02 am
NOTE TO SELF—– SAINTS WON I guess you LOST AGIAN!!!! PAYDIRT
February 8th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Perkin,
What were you watching? Two big kids in o-line this year were decent. One of them did not get on the field until middle of season. The other boy was good straight ahead but is still a year or two away from competing at a high level. Team didn’t gel until late in season. Give Coach Perenon credt for getting this team to compete with SL and Hayward. Yes, Alhambra was better than O’Dowd in experience and in both lines. Give Perenon credit for developing his kids to Div 1 and then on to NFL. How many players at other schools in bay Area have kids just like what is at O’Dowd and those other programs DON’T DEVELOP those kids. I have seen numerous HAAL kids with just as much talent and usually MORE THAN O’DOWD not bring their players along. They are never heard from after HS even though they have talent. What I have been most amazed about with Perenon and staff at O’Dowd has been their coaching to bring along the average talent to play at a higher level. I have seen his lesser talented teams beat more talented groups by outcoaching the other guy and by having his players well coached to make plays.
Remember 10-2 team was playing w/o QB for last part of season and BOD was in SL game until QB got hurt. Also kid that transferred after season was a big distraction to team and did not play well for most of season. I know. I was at many practices and all games that year.
That team was also only team in HAAL to hold Hayward to 6 points. Other kids stepped up even though superstar played poorly.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:58 am
That kid was MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
CHRIS MARTIN A TOP DIVISION 1 PLAYER THAT PERENON KICKED TO THE CURB
AND THERE WAS THAT OTHER KID MMMMMMMMMMMMM OH YEAH HE WENT TO SERRA AND HE WENT TO SIGN WITH MMMMMMMMMM OH YEAH NORTHWESTERN
I GUESS BOTH THOSE KIDS WERE NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR PERENON……LOOK AT THEM NOW…………..
February 8th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Areyoukidding …
Get real. Martin left, according to what is in the paper and on the internet sites, to go to prep school back east so that he could get into ND earlier. Didn’t he, by the way, quit basketball team? Wonder why? The other boy’s family moved to other side of bay, close to Serra. Didn’t some kids come into O’Dowd to to go school there and play football in last few years? Cherod Simpsom, kid from New Zealand, Nickerson? And, since you have mentioned DLS in your other posts, didn’t Joe Montana’s kid transfer out of DLS to So Cal? Must be because DLS coach is an SOB too. That’s your logic. And it is ridiculous. You must have a vendetta against Coach Perenon. I have still not seen you post ONE THING that makes sense and would result in a coach at any HS to lose their job. And, your personal opinions such as he’s an SOb, he’s mean, etc don’t cut it. Come up with something that has merit and is REASON to remove a coach.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Why Coach Perenon could have been fired…
He pushes people, sure, he was very good at that. But for one player each year he would take it too far. For some reason he would focus on that one guy and make his life miserable.
The three years I played for him we were great, won all the time, including an NCS championship. I respected him as a coach but not as a person.
It made me sick thinking about this one guy who worked hard, did not complain, but was the scapegoat and brunt of all Coach P’s frustrations. All they wanted to do was play and contribute. He is simply a bully with a title as coach. Can’t imagine thinking about 25 guys over 25 years. Karma catches up to you, eventually.
Retention from freshman to varsity ball was and is rediculous. A lot of good athletes refused to play for him. Some even went to walk on and play in College.
It is one thing to push people to be better. It is another to make someone’s life miserable.
I am curious and excited to see what comes next for O’dowd. And am grateful the bullying is stopped. I’m thankful the administration has decided it is not good to have a bully coach at O’dowd, a catholic school. O’dowd can have class and still succeed because we do have the talent continuously. O’dowd deserves a leader as a coach to be a good role model and inspiration.
February 8th, 2010 at 11:00 am
He is removed because he had a one year contract, it expired and he has no legal right to the position.
February 8th, 2010 at 11:14 am
thats right harkanewday
i just mentioned those others because it is irrelevant ….. players…other players good or bad have nothing to do with his contract not being renewed he was fired
END OF THE STORY LINE….
February 8th, 2010 at 11:16 am
From what I hear you are right #196 but does that mean that every Head Coach out there should do nothing fb related until they are told that their contract is being renewed? I haven’t heard meetings like that take place on a yearly basis. If that were true then why don’t they repost the job every year.
If they would have never told Coach Perenon he was being fired he would have conitnued to coach the whole year. The contracts are year to year or administrations can get rid of coaches whenever. He could have left any time as well. I think that what DRAGONPRIDE is saying is that BOD had made a committment to Perenon & he to them we’re talking straight honor. If they were to break that then they should have a pretty good reason.
If not then you’re never going to get good Caoches at your school or any coaches that will make a commitment if they can be fired for whatever reason the administration feels like.
February 8th, 2010 at 11:21 am
Institutions do not remove employees because the employee has a “one year contract”. The must be a compelling reason known as “cause” to not renew a contract or to terminate an employee. The institution and the employee both must uphold the language of the contract. You may be wrong in stating that the coach has no legal right to the position. I have researched this a bit. It appears that since this coach has been in that position for so many consecutive years that he may have some leverage unless the institution can prove “cause”. There is another post #128 and #131 that addresses more of this. And , reasons like “he is an SOB” or other things like that are not sufficient reasons to dismiss a coach or teacher. Hey, I have been around the program at BOD for a number of years. I can say that i have not seen or observed any coach at BOD do anything that would be grounds for dismissal. I have, however, seen and heard parents who should be ashamed of themselves for what they say and how they conduct themselves. Fire them (lol)!
February 8th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Dragonpride you still have not addressed the behvaior at the hayward game?
Apparently that is ok behavior for you? or did you ignore purposely ….
YOU are also correct that it must have been subsatanial to get rid of him…
Like I said above no matter what is said on these blogs, or how much support you may thinhk he has
Coach Perenon will always be EX FOOTBALL COACH NO LONGER COACH
HE WILL NOT SEE THAT POSITION AT BISHOP ODOWD EVER AGAIN
THE END
February 8th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Areyoukidding Yes, I was at the Hayward game. If you are referring to the incident at the end of 1st half it seems like some of players stopped playing while others kept going. I did hear someone say something about one official blew a whistle but the play kept going. I thought both teams coaches did a good job of separating kids and nothing really happened. No flags were thrown by the officials. I did observe Coach Perenon ask head ref for an opportunity to have both teams coaches talk with their players and nothing happened in the game after that.
As I have stated in previous blogs I have been around O’Dowd for a number of years and have followed the sports programs closely. Coach Perenon has always maintained control of his teams. These are competitive events involving teenage boys. Some times kids go overboard with their emotions and do foolish things. Football contains emotion. Those kids were playing hard. Coach Perenon has managed his teams well. I commend him and his staff and the Hayward coaches as well for managing the situation the way they did.
You sure do seem to have an issue with Coach Perenon, though. Your anger comes out through your posts. What is your issue? Maybe you should talk with the coach to vent your dislike for him. Nothing you post has merit.
February 8th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Areyoukidding -
Please have some courtesy and stop repeating yourself.
We all know that you believe Coach P is gone and will never come back and that the thought of this brings you great pleasure.
But repeatedly taunting with capital letters and stale opinions is sophomoric… which makes sense b/c you are probably just a young boy.
I encourage you to step up your game, tell everyone who you are (former player/student?), elaborate on the specifics of the behavior witnessed at the Hayward game and draw an intelligent conclusion/observation based on facts.
Based on my observation, the only people on here who don’t like Coach P are a former kicker/soccer player and 2 disgruntled young boys (judging by the lack of basic grammar).
February 8th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
That will be a good job for someone down the road i should tell my coach to throw his hat in .
knight pride !!!
February 8th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
POLL: Make your vote
(A) Perenon should be moved to the broom closet and have to sit in a student desk and watch films of the San Leandro Pirates championship teams from the last 10 years.
(B) Perenon should donate all his binders full of plays to Waste Management Recycling as it is a waste of paper in its current state.
(C) Perenon should go out and get drunk with the Athletic Director and have a golf cart race with the winner taking over the school.
(D) Perenon should turn on the lights to the field at 1 am and cause a neighborhood revolt ala Lakeview Terrace.
(E) Perenon should start a new intramural football league for his soft players.
February 8th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
The image of (C) is funny. The rest are just dumb. Since you won’t tell anyone who you really are, you comments are worthless. Since you hate Coach P so much, why don’t you tell us why? Are you scared, little man?
February 8th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Razor, why don’t you divulge your name. Are you scared little man? You are probably some uneducated football coach want a be who thinks intimidating young boys is part of growing up. Maybe you should join the marines and get your ass kicked.
February 8th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
First I am not the only person that believes Coach Perenon is Gone It is my understanding when you get a termination letter your fired so its true……..
CLUE: HE IS FIRED HES NO LONGER A HEAD COACH AT BOD ITS NOT WHAT I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT IS FACTUAL
February 8th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Hey who has applied at B High????
February 8th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Areyoukidding -
The debate/dialogue is not over whether Coach P is fired – it’s over whether he should have been fired, what led up to it and why people believe what they do about him.
You obviously have nothing intelligent or insightful to add to the discussion so just go back to myspace with Harkanewday the rest of the 12 year olds.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Razor88flood, you are a total loser and that is why you support an evil egotistical football coach like Perenon. Go back to your crib.
February 8th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Wow, I can’t believe that this thread has hit #208. I’m not sure why Coach Perenon got fired and I can’t say whether it was right or wrong, even though one has to admit that it is pretty curious because of his past success. I do however have to say that Harkanewday and Areyoukidding obviously have some type of personal vendeta against Perenon. If you guys are going to continue to act like children, please at least explain what he did to you. I’ve read every post on here and you guys have never once given 1 legitimate reason for him to be fired. Yeah, I get it, he’s rough around the edges, he can be mean to his players, may not treat every player equally, and swears on the sideline. I’ve been in coaching for 16 years and that sounds like every football coach I’ve ever met! I’m not a Perenon lover or a Perenon hater, but I do know that he ran the 2nd most successful high school football program in the last 25 years. If a program is rated on it’s wins and losses, than I’d say he did a pretty good job.
February 8th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
I agree with harkanewday, you people are losers,
Again, at the end of the day it does not matter hes still fired and gone…
Does not matter why and how what does matter is that he is GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 9th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Post #179 by a kid who played last year. Great post that sums up what was going on with the team last year. Kids nowadays are SOFT and can’t handle someone like Perenon that pushes them to be the best. When I was young, we could take the disipline, but now, Shit, little kids are calling child protective services on the phone when their parents spank them.
We live in a whole different world now and like I said before, a lot of the kids playing now, don’t have the drive or heart to succeed!!!
Areyoukidding, you most likely are one of those Soft kids or a parent of a soft kid. I really feel sorry for you.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Thanks PJsDad for the reference to post #179.
I recommend a new book to this blog thread: “The Sissification of the American High School Football Player” co-authored by Areyoukidding and harkanewday. Read it and weep, a sad time for America, or at least BOD.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Hey truth I have no idea who you are talking about my daughter goes to Valley Christain, and we do not have people like you there…… Maybe you should stop assuming….. I do not have a son 3 daughters…….. they p[lay Lacrosse for the Pleasanton legaue.
Maybe you should start getting your qwon facts straight
February 9th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
It’s always unfortunate when a head coach or any coach gets fired at any level.Perenon was a competitor and always fielded great teams. Last year with Brown and that big ass lineman, Alex and Ward, Nickerson at LB, they had plenty of talent. Does anyone know if Ward is coming back or is he bouncing like Martin and Smith did.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
I think people should just stop and really think about what they are saying to people and about people.
The facts remain Coach Perenon was let go. The school and the administrators must of had a good cause to do that especially after 20 years plus.
To be bashing others on this site does no good.
And to honestly blame players-children for his firing is more ridiculous ….
Becasue that is a good escape goat and not looking at what the truth may be is just wrong ti keep assuming. If that is the case when your in court I guess the judge should automatically assume you are guilty? without knowing all the facts and details……. This is what your doing so instead of blamming everyone just styop bashing and go on with your days…..
February 9th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
just like we shouldn’t assume anything regarding the coach, likewise we shouldn’t assume the kids were “soft or sissies”. That’s just as bad as the people on here name calling the coach. If my kid played football for Odowd I would be upset, especially if everyone was assuming the players were the reason for his contract not being renewed.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
I guess that is why some of the whinning parents of players may be so upset becasue they feel there kid has worked so hard for Coach Perenon now he has to start from the beginning……
That maybe their kids now have to actually —compete for positions — or playing time maybe that is why people are upset
Not that the school would be getting a new coach but the players have to go back and work …….harder to prove to the new coach—
Hey that is not necessaryily bad——
February 9th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
These guys have turned in applications, or should, for the Berkeley job, Kravitz, Perenon, G. Morris, F. Sims, J. Seidan, T. Coleman, Hamilton, two out of state guys I didnt know. They are loaded with talent, and some good coaches running things until someone get hired.
February 9th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Areyoukidding, if you have 3 daughters that all play Lacrosse, have nothing to do with O’Dowd Football, and go to Valley Christian, then what the hell do you know about Perenon? You are so full of crap! You obviously have a vendeta against the man, but am to much of a chump to tell us why. For all we know, you’re one of those soft kids that went crying to their Parents about him.
bbfan2, I wasn’t trying to say that all the kids on the team were “soft or sissies”, I was just trying to explain that today’s high school athlete is different than one from decades past. I’ve been around coaching for some time and I can tell you that you have to handle kids a lot differently these days. I think it’s safe to say that this generation of kids IS harder to deal with and in some cases much softer that kids of the past. Same thing happened at a high school in Washington. The team was preparing for their division Championship game (1st time in school history) and were spending on average about 25 to 40 minutes longer on the field and in the video room. Well, several of the kids complained to their parents about the “long hours” and next day, an attorney was involved and practice was canceled on Thursday and Friday, while the matter was looked into. Needless to say, the team got destroyed and the coach got fired after his 2nd season as head coach. His record after 2 seasons? It was 18-4. Their record the 2 previous years before he got there? It was 8-12. Hmmmm, kids are soft these days, sorry, but thats my story and I’m sticking to it!!
February 9th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Telling people they are full of crap unnecessary maybe they have friends who dont like him
It is that possibility ……People that go to this school do have friends in other cities and actually other schools
It is what the first amendment call freedom of speech One may speak their opinions
Newspapers do it all the time maybe they came to a game and didnot like what they saw or maybe they did at the end of the day why do you care!!!!! who answers what on this blogggg
its all nonsense and bull crap anyway ————–
February 9th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
BOD did have some talent last fall. But the team came together late in the season. The kids who wanted to be the players put it together and played hard at the end of the season. We all have to remember that there is only one DLS and that traditional powers like St Francis in WCAL went through a couple of down years before returning to the top this year. Perenon has had only two or three down years in 25 years. At a school that was known for only basketball. Sure not everyone likes him, but I have not been around a coach that everyone likes. The large majority of his players in the years I have been around do like him and respect him and those that want to play hard and get it have a great experience which, from I read, lasts a lifetime.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
#231 Fast and Physical. Good scoop on the applicants for the Berkeley head coach position. Who on the list could also be an “annointed” O’Dowd candidate as well?
It would be quite ironic if Coach Perenon took over a program that competed with O’Dowd, but I suspect he has too much class to do something like that.
On the flip side, the O’Dowd administration may be between a rock and a hard place if they get a reference check on the former coach: a good reference could reduce the claimed damages if he gets hired, a bad reference could prolong or strengthen the potential lawsuit, and a “no comment” reference will leave the lawsuit threat dangling. Expect an out of court settlement with a “no comment” reference, unless they have the goods, but then why is the coach still on campus teaching? Hmmm…
February 9th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
exactly if he had done something so wrong he would have been fired from both coaching and teaching. the fact that they only removed him from coaching, but let him stay as a teacher raises some questions as to the extent of the situation.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
under employment law you can not say anything about why a person has been removed. The only thing you can say is whether or not you would hire him again. By law an employer can not say anything. And they may be pusshing the button. The lawsuit would have nothing to do with what an employer is legally able to say or not say its under employment law. Do not know the code off hand but its on the internet.
February 9th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
FYI renegade-
Coaching and teaching are two different jobs at a school. One not necessarily relating to the other
February 10th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
im darren sanchez and coach p is my best friend
February 10th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
it’s inappropriate to call today’s kids soft…different than prior generations, sure…but “soft” is a cop out by folks without creative minds…kids today put a lot more effort in excelling in athletics than prior generations…witness the proliferation of camps, private coaches, etc…
folks on this board have a lot of fun speculating about the reasons and fairness of change, but few are really around the program, OR the school…the school has changed a lot over the last decade…and generally all for the better…its ambitions are much higher academically and in all of the extra-curriculars than they were in the past…it aspires to be among the best private Catholic high schools in the region…thus, if folks want to compare, they should pick the right schools to benchmark against…
for whatever reason, O’Dowd has had difficulty in recent years retaining its athletes in the football program…without getting into an argument about the merits of Coach P (he clearly has a strong legacy of achievement at the school)…it is and has been time for a change…his prior fit, no longer exists…if he was smart he’d go out gracefully with his legacy intact…the school admirably has taken the high road, he should too…the fact that he hasn’t says a lot…
O’Dowd competes at the highest level among other private Catholic high schools in almost all endeavors (academics, non-sport extra-curriculars AND sports)…spend some time looking at current regional rankings in other boys sports…the same level of success is also being achieved in test scores, debate teams, college admissions, etc. …a young creative and dynamic coach that creates a positive atmosphere around the program could turn this around quickly…
February 10th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
“Why” proposes that O’Dowd has had difficulty in recent years retaining its athletes in football. I am around the program and know that not to be the case. The varsity roster included more participants last fall; the Jv team was larger than in past years and the frosh team was un usually large (over 40+ last fall). Take a look at surrounding schools rosters and you will find that BOD has as many or, in some cases, more kids doing football than schools with double or more enrollment. Some have posted to compare BOD with SI or DLS. BOD had slightly fewer on varsity than SI, about the same on JV and slightly less on frosh. SI though, has bigger enrollment and not a much larger number of kids in football. Comparison with DLS is proabably not a fair oen in that DLS has 1000 boys. Comparing anybody else to DLS is also unfair!lol!
“Soft” is a relative term. It fits with what I observed of the desire and effort of some kids on BOD varsity last fall. Some, many, perhaps, would disagree with the post #236. I, for one, feel that the school has lost its feel of community and respect for achievement and discipline. Rules and discipline lack the consistency that existed a few years ago. I hear many of the coaches who are also teachers lament how many kids are not on time to school and to class. Don’t mention the dress code or the topic of accepting late homework and assignments. That is sure to open up a major point of frustration. And this just scratches at the surface. I am not convinced that the school has changed for the better. Yes, the basketball is is doing great this season, as is the soccer team. But, as recently as last season the basketball team finished in fourth place in the HAAL. And they turned it around with some good young kids. BOD football team finished second in HAAL last year and year before. Who’s to say that Coach P and his staff couldn’t have done the same thing in football? His legacy includes seasons of bouncing back from a disappointing year. You say it’s about numbers. You say it’s about change. That’s not what I see nor believe. You question he should go out gracefully. What is he doing that indicates that he is not taking, in your words, the “high road”? I feel I qualify to respond because I have been around the school and all the sports programs. I do not see a need for change. The majority of the kids that I hear support him and his program. Maybe some of the kids need to question their own motivation and intent.
February 10th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Stockholm Syndrome
February 10th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Dragonpride, it is not about the wins and losses. It is about treating people properly, whether it is administration, other coaches, parents, or his players.
The man is a cancer and should just go take an assistant coaches job at a JC where if he treats one of those kids poorly, he might just take one in the jaw.
February 10th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
dragon pride, you make a good overall observation about numbers and I’m not here to trash Coach P, however, getting lawyered up and saying that they have to “push him out” is not taking the high road…this is not Lane Kiffin v. Al Davis…if he is as great a coach as you all claim…he will have plenty of opportunities to continue his craft elsewhere…gee, Lane made it to USC by taking the high road…
as to your point about numbers and size of program:
do you know what percentage of the players in the program were freshman?
do you know what percentage were upper classman?
do you know how many seniors played this year?
juniors?
how does that compare to those other schools?
what was the retention percentage of the current senior class?
why?
February 10th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
the days of any old guy coaching a youth sport are long gone…
all of these kids (especially at a private school) have come up playing soccer, baseball, cyo basketball, football, etc. with coaches that have been required to take PCA or similar style courses on positive coaching…they attend camps at colleges, etc., that approach coaching the same way…
as these kids make their way to high school, there is no reason for them to expect that high school coaches would not follow the same approach…and at O’Dowd they generally do, except for one glaring exception…
have you asked Coach P what he thinks of PCA?
you can call them “soft”…I’d say they deserve a little more credit…
it’s not about wins and losses (although they usually come on their own)…it’s about developing a positive program where kids grow and are encouraged to pursue excellence…
again, a new dynamic leader could turn this around rather quickly and really set the tone for the entire school…
February 10th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Why? I looked on NCS web site at rosters listed for 2009 play offs. BOD listed 10 seniors on roster. 7 seniors were starters, 2 injured and did not play, 1 non starter in the play off game vs Alhambra.
Highest number of participants in program were freshmen which is what I normally observe.
Juniors and seniors in program listed on roster were 29 total (nineteen juniors). JV team had about 35 players, a mix of mostly sophs and some freshmen. I do not know the retention percentage for current senior class. But my recollection is that the freshman class four years ago (would be seniors now) did not have as big numbers as current freshman class. I would bet that some of them are not at BOD anymore. Some kids play freshman football for the experience and don’t want to do it any longer. Not their sport for a variety of reasons. Some get the message that to play other sports you have to choose one and do it year round (basketball, soccer and baseball) to have a chance. A good question to ask is how many kids who played football as freshman stopped playing because of another sport. I believe that would factor into the drop off between freshman and senior year. And, let’s face it, not all kids who play football in freshman year find it to their liking. The biggest drop off is between freshman year and sophomore year. My friends tell me that it is the same at other high schools. Maybe we should look at the freshman coach. lol!
BOD had a small senior class in terms of numbers this past fall. I believe that Alhambra had the same situation a year ago (small senior class, larger junior class) and had a terrific season this past fall. Did they advocate that their coach leave because of a down year or two? What about the other catholic schools in the E Bay area that compete with BOD for enrollment? Both St Mary’s berkeley and Moreau in hayward compete for many of the same kids as BOD. What shape are their football programs in? I remember the day in which both of them had 3 levels of football, 100+ kids playing AND they had winning programs all the time. Moreau has been down for years and I believe that it hurt their enrollment. St. mary’s had to back to an old school type coach to compete again. Coach P has managed to keep O’Dowd consistently competitive and keep the numbers consistent also. I wonder how many kids come to O’dowd to play in the football program because of its success that would go elsewhere (like to St Mary’s or Moreau) if the program was not successful? How many local schools have had to drop a level of football because of lack of interest? Not at O’Dowd.
Since Why brought up the retention percentage question, what is the rate of retention in other sports at schools like BOD? I know from being around O’Dowd that a large number of kids do not make it through four years of basketball, soccer and baseball.
Lastly, to Why. I would bet that some of the veteran “old guys” would not take kindly to your reference. How old is “old”? DLS coach has been on the job for over 30 years. What about the guy down in Fremont? Coach at Amador Valley has been around for a while. Isn’t Coach Shag still around? Look at what St. Mary’s has been through since he left. As I said, they had to bring in one of his former players to get their program competitive again. And from what I hear he is really old school. lol!! From my vantage point the kids at BOD are fortunate to have a coach in Coach P who truly understands the place of football and the meaning of competitive athletics and the positive life lessons that come out of his program. As I have stated before, the majority of the kids respect him and play hard for him. That’s enough to keep me coming around to watch and enjoy.
February 10th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Well said Why?Says in all your blogs…….
February 10th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Dragonpride…sorry, “old” comment was not related to age of HS football coaches (or age at all!), I guess I should have said “any guy”…I was referring to the fact that youth sports (before HS), require PCA type training, etc. at all levels (including CYO)…as a result, this is the expectation of players (and parents)…
with regard to specialization, etc. this is not unique to BOD, it’s true everywhere…so numbers should be comparable…unfortunately, BOD’s attrition of older players seems high…which also results in more kids needing to move up the roster…(as a reference, SI had no Soph’s on Varsity, nor Freshman on JV)…
some on this blog say it’s due to “soft” kids…I think it might be related to coaches that do not adapt to the new reality…
February 10th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Why … it does seem high, but, from I have been told by folks elsewhere, it is not altogether uncommon for a school to have a class that is just not “football” motivated. I did look at one of my child’s yearbook from four years ago to actually “see” the numbers. Freshman squad size was low 30′s. Many kids have chosen to play just one sport (only 1 kid playing both basketball and football at varsity level this year). Some kids, I’m told, are no longer at school (academic issues, financial, relocations, etc.). And some not involved any more. My child told me, when I asked about individual kids in the team picture, that football was not a sport for them after trying it as freshman. My kid also said for a handful of them that it was a good decision on their part not to play any further. Without being cruel or hurtful, my kid said, respectfully, not the sport for them! I am also sure that some did not want to commit to summer workouts, etc. But that goes with the game. It is hard to play that sport without the summer prep necessary. That is a fact of life in order to field a competitive team. Coach P offers the kids the opportunity to be in a complete program. The ones that get the most out of it are the ones that put the most into it. That is no different anywhere else. Good for Si to have a program with no sophs on varsity and no frosh on JV. But if that is one of your standards for measuring the state of football at BOD, then one should question the sophs on varsity basketball, on the soccer squads, on the baseball and softball teams and in all sports.
Also, Why, you did not respond to my question of attrition rates in the other sports at BOD? Take a look. You might reconsider your point of view!
February 10th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
DRAGONPRIDE you’re my hero!!!
February 10th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Harkanewday, you still continue to bash Perenon, but refuse to give first hand accounts of why you believe him to be a cancer. Please, give me one reason why you hate the man so much. Was he mean to you when you played or did he yell at your lazy kid? Please, explain.
February 11th, 2010 at 7:35 am
He wasn’t mean to me. I just hated him because he picked on my buddy at every given chance. I spoke with a few of my former teammates about his firing and they all unanimously said that he had it coming.
February 11th, 2010 at 9:35 am
dragonpride
attrition rates in other small-roster/cutdown sports are not comparable to football…
also, not using that “move ups” as a standard, just as a reference point to compare, since those programs seem to keep more upperclassman in the program…if you think that this is an exceptional year wth this senior class, than so be it…i honestly don’t think so (in fact if memory serves, i thought this senior class was the largest entering freshman class in the school’s history…although I don’t recall how many went out for football)…also, you are correct that generally the largest drop off is after freshman year…the other schools generally lose a third and then stabilize…for some reason, BOD loses more and then drops further each subsequent year…why?
as far as underclassman playing varsity, clearly there are extraordinary exceptions that should move up in all sports (e.g., the kids on the current basketball team, and some of the kids on the football team)…this isn’t the point…the point is that those should be extraordinary exceptions…from the outside, it looks like BOD might be pulling up soph’s to fill out the roster (which trickles down through the other levels)…makes it tough to physically compete when you are sending out 15/16′s to play against 17/18′s…might explain some of the other issues mentioned on this blog about maturity, lack of discipline, etc….
tell me you haven’t seen kids at the school and wondered, “gee, why doesn’t that kid play football?”…
again, i’m not here to bash coach P (his history of success speaks for itself)…but trying to explain why the administration might have thought it was time for a change in direction to provide a better fit for the kids that are entering the school…
February 11th, 2010 at 10:25 am
2nd hand hatred. Hmmm…
February 11th, 2010 at 10:40 am
It ain’t 2nd hand paydirt when you hear it. You guys must be his uncle, cousin or something to defend this prick so much. You guys keep talking about soft players, etc… Who the hell do you think you are?
February 11th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Again, I will say it. He has an expired one year contract. Unless this contract has a renewable option at the coaches discretion, which it doesn’t….he is just not rehired.
Plain and simple. He can make a circus of this with his lawyer, but I for one will make sure that my buddy and all the players that hate this man, send the diocese plenty of ammunition to bury this a**hole.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:21 am
People who are in denial just donot want to admit the lights are out.
Perenon is never going to see that field again as a head coach He can now be a
Proud Clipboard guy just as he was at St. MArys right?
His job now is to be the best PE Director and teacher.
That is also a serious commitment , lets hope he doesnt screw that one up
Dragonpride needs to get over their pride and loyaly to a man who obviously from these blogs is really not so nice.
Hey did you hear about the kid last year who was so scared of him , he actually thought he was a bully.
Wow! Im sure after 25 years more stories will come out
February 11th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Jus my 2 cents.. I recall going to the hayward – odowd game this past season and witnessing a half time brawl almost break out just before halftime and then a fight between 2 o’dowd players where and unsuited player socked a player in uniform in the mouth.. They appeared to be fighting over a water bottle…Jus seemed like the coach lost control of the team in my opinion…
February 11th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Harkanewday -
You are clearly very affected by your observations and interactions with Coach P… Here’s some of the claims you have made:
- not well liked by admin, coaches, players
- “pushed himself around”
- “not a role model”
- driving kids away from playing football
- lack of respect for players
- thinks he rules the school
- “found comfort in the dark side”
- yells at/intimidates players
- was a tyrant
- do you.. think … (he) … would be fired w/out just cause?
- is a jerk
- is a cancer
- “picked on my buddy at every given chance”
I would like to know specific examples or patterns of behavior from any of the claims above. Here’s some questions for you to consider:
———
How did he push himself around? What, specifically, did he do? what did he say? to whom?
How was he not a role model?
How did he show lack of respect for players? What actions did he take, what specific things did he say?
What is the “just cause” for his firing? I’d really like to know. Specific examples, please.
How did he pick on your buddy? Did he call him names? Did he put him down?
I really want to know some specifics.
———
You can go back to your standby combo of “He’s a . He’s fired”. But this adds nothing to the discussion.
You obviously were close to or part of the program… i suspect you played for him in the mid-2000s… some stuff happened and you’ve held a grudge for awhile… Well what happened specifically?
One more thing, you mention guys you played with all hate Coach P. Does this same group of players also think it’s cruel to wear your helmet on a bus? on the sideline? What about conditioning? Is it cruel to run hills in the summer and gassers on Mondays?
Maybe things have changed since I played.
Please help me understand.
February 11th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
dragonpride
attrition rates in other small-roster/cutdown sports are not comparable to football…
also, not using that “move ups” as a standard, just as a reference point to compare, since those programs seem to keep more upperclassman in the program…if you think that this is an exceptional year wth this senior class, than so be it…i honestly don’t think so (in fact if memory serves, i thought this senior class was the largest entering freshman class in the school’s history…although I don’t recall how many went out for football)…also, you are correct that generally with all schools, the largest drop off is after freshman year…the other schools generally lose a third and then stabilize…for some reason, BOD loses more and then drops further each subsequent year…why?
as far as underclassman playing varsity, clearly there are extraordinary exceptions that should move up in all sports (e.g., the kids on the current basketball team, and some of the kids on the football team)…this isn’t the point…the point is that those normally are extraordinary exceptions…from the outside, it looks like BOD might be pulling up soph’s to fill out the roster (which trickles down through the other levels)…makes it tough to physically compete when you are sending out 15/16’s to play against 17/18’s…might explain some of the other issues mentioned on this blog about maturity, lack of discipline, etc…
tell me you haven’t seen kids at the school and wondered, “gee, why doesn’t that kid play football?”…
again, i’m not here to bash coach P (his history of success speaks for itself)…but trying to explain why the administration might have thought it was time for a change in direction to provide a better fit for the kids that are entering the school…
February 11th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
How about the story about the kid whos helemt was too tight or broken and he actually got hurt
He was so scared of the coach he continued to wear the busted up helemt , the kid apparently thought he was a bully
That is a true story
The hayward game horrible horrible control of the team those players should have been suspended from games and they werent, he lost total contol I was there and saw it that is another fact
February 11th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
If you want to find out the just cause for his firing, why don’t you take the AD out for some whiskeys. I’m sure he’ll tell you after 8 shots.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
#249. I am just someone who thinks that haters like you are easy marks to have their chain pulled again and again and again… DOH!
If you would just answer the valid questions asked by Razor88flood (for example see #252), you might just gain some credibility. If not, you will be judged strictly by your irrational hatred.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
I’ll keep this post short and to the point.
Razor88Flood, things have not changed in my view. Kids who share the Haranewday logic don’t want to do what is necessary to become good, competitive and contributing players. All they want is to wear a jersey and make others think that they contribute. Next, the Harkanewday people will want to do away with tackling, contact drills, scrimages and take the toughness out of the game. We all know that football at any level from youth to professional level is not for every kid.
Harkanewday, check this blog from top to bottom. Your point of view lags well behind the support this man is getting. Also read post #179.
Coach trot, I was, also, at the hayward game. Read post #213. Coaches from BOTH SCHOOLS did a wonderful job of PREVENTING a brawl. Inadvertent whistle caused the mele. Coaches got control of their kids. I did not see the altercation between the BOD kids as you report. Hopefully the school admin addressed and issued consequences for their reported poor behavior. My question is what is up with 2 kids from same team arguing over a water bottle, (as you suggest)? Sounds to me like this fits other blogs who raise issues over commitment levels, soft kids, reasons for being on a team and spoiled nature of some of today’s kids. If this is what Coach Perenon has to deal with , oh boy. He should get paid additional for baby sitting. I know, these kids played in PCA youth programs where it is okay to fuss with one another over water bottles while their team competes in a game. I can hear their parents now! So much for that point of view.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Kind of on the subject I heard that Casye Moreno from Dublin has been fired as Coach but not as a teacher. I heard a rumor that it was for hitting a player in the helmet with his whistle. Any truth to him getting fired or for what reason? My buddy told me he also saw Coach Moreno at the All-Sports clinic a few weeks ago so I don’t know when it happened.
February 11th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Ridiculous how off topic and unrelated some posts have been, and the name calling is a bore.
There appears to be no shortage of candidates seeking employment at Odowd. If it is such a cherished job as appears so, it does make a person pause to consider the excellent job done by the newly unemployed coaching wise that Perenon did there.
Casey Moreno’s name somebody mentioned, maybe he wants out of Dublin? Bryan Hamilton obviously is trying to flee Concord and the vanishing funds, Dave Kravetz is he still at San Ramon, he must be camping in the Odowd parking lot? It is known that least two De La Salle assistants have applied, and so have a few Hayward region coaches, and one of the Moreau coaches.
My booster contact at Odowd mentioned two startling items yesterday, and one to be expected.
First, A handful of collegiate assistant coaches have begun pushing hard for the job, most from northern California, but a few from down south and out of state.
Second, Brad Bowers of San Leandro and Kurt Brian of Piedmont have also applied
Third, One of the Odowd coaches who is apparently well thought of is pushing hard to be interviewed too
I have not a email or text of proof of these rumors however true or false they might be.
With Perenon’s exile it is as if the Berkeley job is now second fiddle, with Arroyo and Livermore jobs third and fourth.
Which job is better, Berkeley or O’dowd?
TunnelFunnel
February 12th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
WOW you see he was not alone in being fired for mistreating players you see even the public schools have their stndards just likr BOD and when those standards are compromised then you need to look for a new job.
The people who donot want a new coach are the people who are small minded to change. or They arent smart enough to understand that what is done will not ever be unchanged.
There will be a new head coach and his staff the sooner realized the better. It will be good for BOD.
February 12th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Im sure any person they are considering they would want to make sure that the next coach will be very experienced in coaching. Not just a 1 2 3 year background. Im sure they want a coach that has alot more years.and one that will bring fresh new ideas and a fesh new coaching staff.
Its an exciting time for BOD Foootball!
February 12th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
wow im shoched bowers has put his name n the hat i wonder if thats really true
February 13th, 2010 at 12:16 am
I think O’Dowd chose the wrong time to fire Coach P, alot of kids are mad @ school. Football workouts are just about to begin and alot of kids are saying “well there’s no coach so why should I even go”? We’ll see how this 2010 season goes.
February 13th, 2010 at 12:30 am
It is very curious why O’Dowd’s administration has not taken control of the process and recruited a high-quality football coach of the caliber of Coach Walsh at Junipero Serra. Think outside the confession-box. I now know that that football is clearly not a priority at O’Dowd. DOH!
In other words, the O’Dowd administration makes a move to terminate a legendary football coach with stellar results, and they have no plan. BRILLIANT!!!
Three letters capture my thoughts: WTH??? Gotta wonder why the Jesuits are not up in arms? What the hell did this guy do???
February 13th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
These rumors of these Coaches, bring in someone new and experienced. Each Coach mentioned is like a Book well read, not that they´re bad coaches on the contrary they are fine coaches. But , like a well read book, everyone will know their offense and defense. BOD needs progressive reform. Example, DSL has a great program because it attracts the best players and these players are willing to spend the time and effort to be their best. The HC is a fine coach, but put him at a so so school and he will have so so results.What makes a great Coach are two factors, he surrounds himself with good coaches and lets them coach, the other is he has the talent or the makings of talent to achieve a goal.
The program is still alive, it still has breath. BOD has deteriorated, it core essence has diminished, it seemed to stop trying to get better. Restructure, rebuild and change the system and recruit and get a few more scholarship out there for good athletics with good grades. Hire a pro, this is what he does, period, not a school teacher or some part-timer or an assistant you have no time for that. Two year window for results and a paycheck attached to that, and a checkbook to bring in Assistant Coaches who will buy into the program 150%, who come to work at 7.00am off season and leave when the work is done, and when season starts are their at 5.00am till 9pm or 10pm. Do this and you have a winner.
February 13th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
The will mostl likely bring in a head coach who already has a staff in mind. He will bring BOD were it needs to be. And if the old players dont want to play they can go to another school. The new coach would most likely clean house too!
February 14th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
To Why? post #255. This year BOD roster listed 10 seniors. BOD yearbook shows 45 players on Frosh team of fall of 2006, when this years seniors were freshman. My kid showed me in frosh team picture in yearbook that 14 of those freshman are no longer students at BOD. And 7 more are playing just one sport. That means 21 of the 45 either left BOD or decided to play just one sport. Some classes look great as freshmen but it doesn’t mean that they will all stay in football for all four years. I looked at year before to get more comparisons. 2009 roster showed 32 on varsity with being 15 seniors. Yearbook picture of frosh team when this group were freshmen showed 36 players in picture.
What is considered acceptable attrition? I would think that somewhere between 40%-50% staying in program would be very good. That means a program with a freshman group of 40 would keep between 16-20 kids in their program by the time they reach senior year. The past two years at BOD is between 27% and 47%. But some years are down years. I wonder how many of the 14 who left BOD after freshman year four years ago would have kept playing football if they remained in school. And do you blame the football coach if a kid chooses to just play one sport? I am sorry, but I don’t see attrition as problem in football at BOD. The numbers have stayed consistent and actually have grown over the years I have been around BOD. Coach Perenon has done a remarkable job of balancing his squads with seniors, juniors and sophs to stay competitive over the years. They usually don’t have to suffer through long down cycles like some other quality programs do.
Maybe the kids (not all of them, though) and their parents should get a better grasp on the demands and rigors of what it takes to play HS varsity football in a competitive program that has been successful for two decades. From my viewpoint, some of the kids playing now at BOD could not play at schools like DLS, SI, Serra, San Leandro and others that have been mentioned. The expectations would put those kids in the same situation they are now and would, I imagine, frustrate the coaches at those other schools.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
ithink the blog as wel as the coach has moved on to the new day!
this blog is now dead!
February 17th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Has Kevin Anderson’s (Piedmont Def. Cord.) name surfaced as a potential Head coach? He would be a great choice.
February 20th, 2010 at 11:25 am
las lomas coach doug longero and concord coach brian hamilton are supposedly applying
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Lot of people are applying its a coaching position people need jobs hello
April 3rd, 2010 at 12:26 pm
In 25 years, Coach Perenon BUILT A FOOTBALL EMPIRE….HE IS THE GREATEST BOD FOOTBALL COACH EVER.
August 8th, 2010 at 10:02 am
[...] Perenon brings to Mt. Eden is instant credibility. Before being dismissed after last season, Perenon compiled a record of 209-75-2 in 25 seasons at Bishop O’Dowd and experienced only [...]
October 1st, 2011 at 10:31 am
Nice to see that Perenon is getting waxed weekly in his new full time gig at Mt. Eden. Ironic that he should end up coaching and teaching at a school that he used to regularly dis and run up scores on. Serves that clown right. A fitting end to a poser who got exactly what he deserved.
November 2nd, 2011 at 6:07 pm
I wish the Catholic Church and the Diocese of Oakland were as “proactive” when it came to pedophile Priests.
December 1st, 2011 at 12:26 pm
I have known many of the people involved in the situation as BOD for more years than I care to admit. I played against teams coached by Steve Phelps back in grade school. He was known as the “Mean Phelps” by us back then. He Sacred Heart from San Francisco. His teams consistd of some of the toughest inter city kids I have ever played against. They were virtually unbeatable. In the 8th grade they beat us in the semi-finals of a big tourney in OT. It was over 30 years ago and I can remenber it like it was yesterday. He was VERY aggressive and ripped, players, opposing coaches and refs mercilessly. Our coach, himself the parent of several BOD starts was extremely tough. But, he would never have talked to us the way Steve Phelps ripped his players. Believe me he was as old school as they come.
I played for his brother Mike Phelps in both baseball and basketball. Mike had as high a winning percentage as just about any coach that has ever coached in the Bay Area. I always felt it was his understanding of the basics of sports that was his key to success. In practive we did probably about half of the things that wenton at practice for other teams. We just did a hand full of things exceedingly well. I personally never had any issues with Mike Phelps. I thought he was fair and very clear in what he expected. We played hard and like gentlemen. There were no discussion with referees/umpires. We did the best we could and left it at that. I am extemely proud of the championship teams I played on at BOD. There is no question that the tings that I learned from Mike remain with me to this day. Actually the grade scholl coach I had had a bigger impact. I have always been amazed by the number of people that “hated” Mike. Like I said I felt he was always very straight forward and clear in what he expected. Those that worked the hardest played the most. Thse that could not cut it complained. I hear his words constantly when I coach my sons baseball and basaketball teams. I hope he is doing well today.
I first came across Paul Perenon when I was still in grade school. He was coaching in a youth baseball game I was playing in. This was a summer youth rec league. He was the Paul Perenon that we are all familiar with. He was yelling and screaming and carrying on like a madman. Some caall that old school, some call that being a jerk. we took great pleasur in that victory. Paul was the lsat guy on the team at St. Mary’s high school and was the guy that everyone picked on. He carries that chip on his shoulder to this day.
As I said I played baseeball and basketball at BOD. Let’s just put it this way, we didn’t lose too many games whn I was their. The football team lost more games when I was there than but the baseball and basketball teams my senior year. I decided I would give football a chance and was told to go talk to Coach Perenon abou the JV team. His frist coment to me was “you are a pussy football player, you are not tough enough to play football.” My dad is a boxer and war veteran, a blow hard like Paul Perenon is not going to intimidate me. I said when is pracice Coach, I’ll be there. He sais he needed to see me in the weight room first. Coach TR our me thtough my paces and said two other guys lifted more than me in my grade. Paul then cussed me out again and I said, thanks but no thanks Coach. I’ll just stick with baseball and basketball. I am more focused on winning. I was just a punk Soph in high school but it felt good to talk to him like that.
I did not complain and force the issue. He was th coach and I had to play by his rules or play another game. I played another game. Never played HS football. Natinal Champion Rugby player in college, so don’t question my toughness.
Paul Perenon did build the BOD Football program. coach Taveras had a great team in the 79-80 season and then he left. Randy Zimmer came in and was awful. Paul put together the Frosh program and built the football team. Along the way he felt that every win, in my opinion, gave him license to act exactly the way he wanted to act. he felt league titles entiled him to treat teenagers like crap. Some believe that is just another way to do things. Others think it is deplorable.
He has been successfully married for an eternity, a good parent ot his daughter and he has won a ton of football games. Some swear by him others swear at him. I for one can’t stand the guy. As an alumus/donor to BOD I am thankfull for all the wins he piled up. I have had several discussions with him regarding his behavior. I made it very clear that I did not as a youth nor now as a man care at all for him. I have made it equally clear to him personally that if he ever talks to me like he speaks to his players I will kick his ass. He has never stepped out of line with me.
I sincerely wish him and his family all the best. As I have told my own kids, when you get a jerk for a coach do your job and you’ll be fine. If every time they hit it you catch it and when they pitch it you hit it the coach won’t have too many words for you. He simply rubbed too many people the wrong way. He was told to chamge or get out. He told the powers that be that he is what he is and he does not need to change. They shouwed him the extent of their power. Pretty straight forward actually.
December 1st, 2011 at 3:30 pm
I was on that SM team with Pernon in the early seventies. He was not the person who was picked on. He was behind 2 excellent QB’s and when one went down with injuries, he moved to 2nd team. He was a good sideline play caller along with Coach Medaglia.
If he is carrying something on his shoulders over that, never heard of it. I cannot speak for his BO actions, you were there, however is Mike Phelps the same who got into trouble with alleged child abuse?
I believe it was more than alleged- it made the papers and he was charged.
December 26th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
@BOD Grad….you hope Mike Phelps is doing good today? Are you serious? You should be asking how the kid he molested 40+ years ago is doing.
December 26th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
@BigJoe…yes he is the very same Mike Phelps. Sexual abuse actually.
January 10th, 2012 at 12:42 am
This is all I have to say… No one is perfect and Coach P is no exception. With that being said, him being dismissed was not only stupid but a shame to BOD sports. I was part of teams that built the field that all these whinny babies play on now. I played on the grass field with the huge dry dirt patch in the middle in the summer and muddy quagmire in the winter. I ran 20 gassers because people didn’t touch the line all the way or go full speed in practice. I did 4th quarter drills until it was so dark on that hill you couldn’t even see the helmet next to you. All of this taught us discipline, made us tougher and made BOD football what it was. These microwave society kids do not understand that now a days. They think everything is supposed to be given and none earned. These so called people that are happy are people who could not make it plain and simple. And all these parents are enablers, believing all the bs coming out of their whinny kids mouths. Grow up and grow some balls everyone who thinks otherwise. I was really there, 3 years on Varsity and survived. Anyone that quit had zero heart plain and simple.