- East Bay Prep Corner
Hardy Nickerson named O’Dowd football coach (UPDATED)
By Jimmy Durkin
Thursday, April 15th, 2010 at 10:33 am in Basketball, Coaching changes.
Former NFL and Cal star Hardy Nickerson was announced Thursday as the new head football coach at Bishop O’Dowd High.
Nickerson, whose son Hardy Jr. is a sophomore who plays for the Dragons, was O’Dowd’s linebackers coach last season and takes over for 25-year veteran Paul Perenon, whose contract was not renewed.
Nickerson spent 16 years in the NFL, most notably with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and spent time as a linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears. He also served stints as an assistant at Providence Day School and Charlotte Country Day School, both located in Charlotte, N.C.
“Any time I can teach football, that’s my passion,” Nickerson said. “I love teaching football. It’s all about the kids. For the kids, it’s about the opportunity to go beyond the x’s and o’s and teach some of the valuable lessons you learn in life.”
Nickerson’s immense football background was a big selling point for O’Dowd.
“We feel he brings an incredible leadership ability garnered from being a team captain at the highest level, as a coach and especially his work with disadvantaged youth through his charity organizations,” Dragons athletic director Mike Bowler said in a release. “His ability to communicate with everyone will make him an incredible ambassador for Bishop O’Dowd. His passion for football will be contagious throughout our community and will make for a great experience for all.”
Nickerson said it’s his goal for O’Dowd to be in position to compete for a state championship. Despite being competitive every year, the Dragons haven’t won a Hayward Area Athletic League title since 1999. They won a North Coast Section 2A East Bay crown in 2004.
“I think we have to go out and play football with a lot of effort and enthusiasm,” Nickerson said. “You do that, and guys are enjoying playing football, and good things happen. That’s the goal right off the bat, to create that type of excitement.”
Nickerson said it’s always been in his blood to be a coach.
“I’ve always had the coach’s mentality,” he said. “My wife and kids call me ‘linebacker man’ because I’m always pointing out something, always coaching.
“I’ve always felt like I’ve had a gift for teaching and helping kids. Not only helping kids but helping the guys I coached with the Bears. I always felt like I wanted to coach and felt like I’d be a coach at some point. I’m excited.”
Here’s a link to the press release.
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
April 15th, 2010 at 11:29 am
So he sabotages the hiring process demanding that he be the DC so no qualified head coach would want the job? Dirty pool.
April 15th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
I guess all rumors were true! Wow! I guess he got his wish
April 15th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Pulls a mutiny on Perenon then takes his job. Did he want the job or it came down to no good coach wanted him as the D Coordinator so the committee decided he should get the job? Good luck man Perenon is a tough act to follow & had better situation being on-campus.
April 15th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Wow! Talk about back door! Well at least that’s over good luck Hardy!
April 15th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Did coach Sims get the Berkeley job?
April 15th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
wow the negative comments started sooner than i thought. just wish the man and program good luck. there have been alot of coaching changes at alot of high schools of late, so I don’t understand why there is so much negativity. I would give the guy a chance before I would accuse him of mutiny and sabatoge.
April 15th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Get lost Bbfan2!
April 15th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Y do I need to get lost ManDown?
April 15th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
For many weeks, a few others on this board and I had patiently drawn out EXACTLY what had been transpiring at Bishop O’dowd regarding the head football coaching search, the panel involved, the team parent/coach in question and now THIS has ALL come true.
Sad, but look at it from the new Dragons head coach point of view:
1. More than 60 Applicants had applied for the job, including numerous successul (PROVEN) head coaches with impressive resumes, such as Longero, Hamilton, Kravitz and others. Along with highly qualified collegiate assistants
2. In several confirmed cases, the New Dragons head coach (Who was an active sitting member of the Interview Selection Panel interviewing potential head coaches) let it be known that HE wanted to be their new Defensive Coordinator
3. Obviously, the ONLY coach that would be attractive enough to potentially hire, would be a friend, peer or existing head coach that WAD NOT going to bring his own Defensive Coordinator with him to O’dowd.
4. The new Dragons head coach now, by NOT letting it be known that he/himself wanted to be the new head coach for O’dowd BEFORE the interview process started, managed to position Himself as the ONLY “football guy” on the interview panel.
5. Inserting himself into this situation so absurdly accomplished many things at once:
a. He saw every coach deemed worthy of the job up close and personal, and was able to Extract parts of those head coaches answers and blend them into his own profile AFTER each candidate had unknowingly given up their information earnestly. In other words, he could give the BEST possible answer to every question asked of him, AFTER the whole process had been fulfilled
b. He “pushed” himself onto unwitting candidates professing wanting to be their new Def Coord as part of the deal if they were to get the job
c. He looks like a Savior instead of what really happened in REALITY behind the scenes
The kids and parents are getting what they DON’T see with the new head coach of the Dragons, not what it appears to be.
O’dowd created a new LOW in the hiring process of a head football coach. Shame on everybody involved.
April 15th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
for the sake of the “kids”, I wish them the best and hope it all works out in the end.
April 15th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
In my mind, they should have made a coaching change years ago. Coach P is a dispicable human – man who long lost the respect of his teaching and coaching peers. He should have been run out of town light years ago. There are far too many athletes at the school for it not to have a successful football program. The reason for the lack of success in the past decade is the kids wanted nothing to do with Coach P. It’s sad, especially for parents who had to endure his antiquated, abrasive personality. Dude walked around campus with such an air of arrogance that it was nauseating. Good thing that he was canned and good thing they have a coach who actually played the game, not some gray-beard living off his high school memories. So hate as you will. The dye has been cast. Deal with it.
April 15th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
COme on now guys. This is Hardy Nickerson were talkin about. At one time he was of the best Linebackers in the League.
April 15th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Great players don’t always make great coaches. Who knows this may turn out to be a great hire, but you can’t deny that there were very strange circumstances that led to this point.
April 15th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Strange circumstances is about the nicest possible thing anybody could say about this horrifying process that took place and the Machiavellian angles played.
April 15th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Did you know that Greg Biekert (very good former Raider LB) calls the D for Longero at Las Lomas? He probably had some good inside info for Longero. Shoot, he has has more experience to call D if he went with Longero than Nickerson.
April 15th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
For those FEW people chanting cheers and praise for the new Odowd Head Football Coach, ask yourself this.
Would YOU want to work for a man or have your OWN kid play for a man that knowingly behaved as has been detailed throughout this WHOLE proces, before, during and after, OR would you rather work for a man and have your OWN kid play for a man who Did NOT do these things or represent this type of behavior?
WAKE UP, this was a bad, bad move by Odowd and everybody involved.
Perenon looks VERY good right about now, especially compared to the new coach just named today
April 15th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Reading the entire press release by the Dragons today, they seem to call upon integrity, values and the like in terms of WHY they chose the new coach.
WHAT????????????????
You have to be KIDDING me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 15th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
PS – a man or coach of great INTEGRITY would have NEVER allowed himself to be on the Interview Panel in the first place if he/himself wanted to be the new head coach or the new Def Coord for the new head coach.
Shameful, awful in every way.
I always root for new coaches to do well, BUT this move will test my mettle on that motto to its very core, but for the Kids sake I will wish them well
April 15th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
By the way, last week one of the Bloggers said that my information could not be trusted until things played out.
Well, not only did I and a couple others nail this one on the money, but UNFORTUNATELY my information PROVED to be 100% accurate
******Looking forward to the news of the new Berkeley coach
April 15th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
That dude pulled a mutiny on Perenon.
April 15th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Viva El Dragon!! Quit hatin’ KillerD!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LLpUbBCwLA
April 15th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Now that this backdoor hire and repugnant process by Odowd has shed its skin in public, launching off from what Murdoc said above is,
Start at the beginning to today:
a. Odowd fires Perenon after getting complaints from concerned parents and kids (Who? Why? What?)
b. Odowd puts together a search committee and the newly named Odowd head coach is ON the Interview panel. INSTEAD OF DOING THE RIGHT THING…..he stays ON the Interview Panel and THEN Openly campaigns to become the new Def Coord to potential candidates he is interviewing.
c. OR…………he’s doing this immature and ———– behavior on Purpose in Order to Turn the Stomachs of these highly qualified Candidates…so ALL the Top guys FLEE the Scene and after the dust settles he is tapped by Odowd to pick up the pieces and help the program by becoming the new head coach
d. OR, OR….he is OBLIVIOUS to the Facts at Hand and is SOMEHOW TOTALLY UNAWARE OF HIS IMPLICIT ROLE AND HAS NO IDEA WHAT an awful Conflict of Interest and how hollow the merit of his integrity appears to all outside viewers with any common sense
e. SO, if either Option B, C or D above are true….EITHER way if it Smells Like a Skunk, Looks Like a Skunk and Acts Like a Skunk, then it must be a SKUNK.
April 15th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
A very well respected head coach in the Concord area sent out an email today to those of us he’s known for quite a while after Odowd made their announcement, and part of his quote below is:
“what a joke by odowd and i’m a wiser man that i thought turning them down!”
April 15th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
O’dowd KNew what they were doing from the beginning. The “search” was just a formality! Hope they get someone more qualified then Simms at Berkeley. I hear he is a great guy but I rather have someone with more BIG SCHOOL experience coaching my nephew!
April 16th, 2010 at 1:43 am
man you know this sounds like alot of hating going on! SOme of you should really be ashamed of urselves. Like the saying, if you dont have anythng good to say then don’t say anything at all. SOme of you are just going off of hearsay and dont even know coach Nickerson, and He has to be given the chance to prove himself as well and the bottom line is that he has played on the next level and should be able to relate to the kids and get a solid program going!
April 16th, 2010 at 3:49 am
b high has found their coach it will b announced soon
April 16th, 2010 at 7:45 am
everyone is entitled to an opinion and I respect that. who knows if nickerson will pan out to be a good fit for odowd, but he does deserve the chance and there coulda been worse choices made than a former pro football player who has also coached on the next level. i am gonna actually take my kids advice for once and get over it. what’s done is done. everyone will not always agree, there are some who are happy with the decision and some who aren’t.
April 16th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Watching the Dragons hiring process unravel and in talking with candidates who went through the process with first hand experience, I have now forever lost all respect for the existing Odowd administration that was involved with this. Whomever the people were that sat on that panel as ADULTS – I’ve got no respect for them. The kids are not to blame.
About the new Dragons head coach —- I have ZERO respect for him and the way he conducted himself during the whole process.
No MATTER What Anybody says, there are ONLY three possible realities that took place. So examine them:
1. Odowd has a search committee and the newly chosen Odowd head coach is Actually Siting ON the Interview panel in charge of CHOOSING the BEST New Head Coach. So, what does he do with that power? INSTEAD OF DOING THE RIGHT THING AS A MAN OF MORALITY and INTEGRITY…..he ‘somehow decides’ to stay ON the Interview Panel?!!? THEN, he campaigns to become the new Def Coord to the candidates he is actually interviewing!!!!
2. Second Option: He’s emanating an incredibly immature and —– behavior on PURPOSE in Order to Turn the Stomachs inside-out of the highly qualified Candidates. The Result is, ALL the Top guys FLEE the Scene Shaking their heads in disbelief after dealing with him on the panel. So, the dust settles, and this parent/coach is then chosen by Odowd to pick up the pieces and help the program.
3. The last option is: The parent/coach is totally OBLIVIOUS to the impact and projected image of HIS OWN BEHAVIOR and the FACTS (remember this is NOT rumor) and HE is SOMEHOW TOTALLY UNAWARE OF HIS IMPLICIT ROLE AND HAS NO IDEA WHAT a terrible example he is and how this incredibly bad Conflict of Interest is.
**** SO to EVERY reader on this board who is a Football Coach or Parent of a Football Player, WHICH one is it?
1, 2 or 3?
EITHER way, if it Smells Like a Skunk, Looks Like a Skunk and Acts Like a Skunk, then it must be a SKUNK.
April 16th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Does anyone know why KillerD is such a hater? Were you an applicant that got turned down? Were you somehow burned by O’dowd or the administration? I mean come on man. I read a post from what seemed like a reliable source on Norcalpreps that said that Nickerson was not actually on the panel, but was consulted. If this is the case then most of your argument is false, but who knows, because there is no fact check on a blog.
Did people really turn down the job? Who knows, all hearsay from this bitter bitter person KillerD… again, I contend, who really knows. But if O’Dowd had no job to offer, and no on campus position, then maybe that is why you see no other coach leaving their school to go for that position. Meanwhile Nickerson has been there, knows the kids, has been running spring ball and is willing to step to the plate.
I am not defending Nickerson, if what you say is even partially true, then clearly the hiring process could have been more on the up and up; but even still I find it disgusting to publicly smear a man, and an administration all the while hiding behind a false moniker on a high school blog.
April 16th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Another way to put the BOD coaching travesty is to use the old line about a duck … if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and it must be a duck; it can be painted but it is still a duck…
Killer D has hit this one dead square on the bulls eye (from the beginning I might add). My sources are very close to the BOD situation and they all CONFIRM that Nickerson did undermine Coach Perenon and the staff (as reported by other bloggers on this site and norcal prep); Nickerson WAS an active participant in the interviews and screening; Nickerson was part of the deal for the new coach (maybe why Longero turned it down); Nickerson claimed to support the work the work and efforts of Coach Perenon and his staff, then two-faced him in meetings with the BOD administration; Nickerson has been overheard saying that he got involved in this situation because of his kid at the school. Face it, folks, this whole thing has dirty pool and ugly stamped all over it from the beginning. They force a great coach out, a man of loyalty integrity, ethics and values, a coach with high standards who, by the way, has built and kept the BOD program competitive for 20+ years, a man who welcomed Nickerson and his family to the school and on his staff and they force him to either resign or not be hired back after 25 years and only two poor seasons at a school that had NO FOOTBALL TRADITION OR LEGACY prior to him being the head coach; Nickerson and the incompetent adminsistrators oversee a backroom search process with the most unethical one of all (Nickerson) evaluating candidates when he knew all along that he wanted the job, and then he gets it.
This is ugly, unethical and says much about how BOD is doing its business these days. One wonders about how long those who oversee the operation of BOD will tolerate this immoral behavior and go about replacing those who participated in this sham.
Come on O’Dowd, your community expects more
from you. These blogs will only serve to educate the East bay public of your misgivings and let the truth be known. Shame on you Nickerson, shame on you O’Dowd.
April 16th, 2010 at 9:43 am
IntheKnow – I am friends with a couple of candidates that applied and YES as confirmed by multiple sources, the new Odowd Head Coach WAS an active Member ON the Interview Panel.
My peace has been said and I wish the kids at Odowd well.
I am not smearing anybody at all, just stating the FACTS and my Opinion of what happened since I’ve been privy to all of the facts all along, the new head coach’s actions at Odowd Unfortunately speak ill of itself
I am done with Odowd and look forward to the exciting Berkeley hire
April 16th, 2010 at 10:46 am
oh i am sure there are schools out there with admins etc that have done worse than odowd. i am not defending them or their actions in anyway, but I am also not going to condemn them as if they committed murder. as for longero, the past two seasons my nephew has been under the impression his coach might “leave” yet he’s still there, so it is a possibility that IF he turned the position down it was because that just what he does.
April 16th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
not having an on campus job for the new coach a BOD couldve been a major factor to other coaches turning the job down. the new coach at b high needs to b on campus and the admin is working on doing that for this upcoming fall sem. it could b some truth to coach nickerson being on the panel but these coaching salary for a season isnt enough to feed ur family, and i did hear that BOD didnt offer an oncampus job.
April 16th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Bhsfan…
Not true about BOD not offering an on campus job with the football position. According to one applicant who interviewed, he was offered the FB job ALONG WITH AN UNSPECIFIED TEACHING position. Accepting the job at BOD was also conditional on taking Nickerson as the defensive coordinator, consistent with Killer D’s posts. My sources tell me that none of the “top” applicants wanted to have Nickerson including O’Dowd’ first choice.
As Killer D says, Coach Perenon is looking better and better every day!
April 16th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Lets move on. O’Dowd showed it’s true colors. I am retiring my black n gold memorabilia! And will stop donating as well. Now for BHS. I stated last night I hope they hire someone with BIG SChool experience. Not to take anything away from Sims but I believe this year he had 10 really great seniors on his that got him that last championship, then he skips out? Not showing a lot of class there. Rumor has it he is buddy buddy with Alonzo so I am sure he will get the job anyway. He would make an awesome assistant under someone like Perenon!
April 16th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
jayden:It was not buddy buddy that had sims apply for the bhs job! His teams have played great with what they had at st. liz. I see him using all his talent at bhs if he gets the job. I think the kids/parents are going to love this guy if he gets the job. so jayden be ready to support whoever bhs hires!!!!
April 16th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
sims had good seniors in a small talent pool that came in through the program with him. imagine him at berkeley with a huge talent pool. he is a fantastic coach.
April 16th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
I will support BHS because my nephew is there. But I also listen to the talk around town as to the status Sims left his team in, not looking to good. It is all politics who get these jobs in the bay area be it my own BOD, Berkeley High, Fremont High it doesnt matter.
April 16th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Congrats Coach Sims!!!!….. It is official:-)
April 16th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
jayden you should get ur facts straight, 1st it has not been announced who the b high coach is, 2nd coach carter didnt even know that sims applied 4 the job until beginning of march and he was very high on coach barnes the now new coach at arroyo. 3rd coach carter wasnt even on the panel, carter didnt pick who the coach was going to b, i think zo might b a lil busy trying to get his college team ready, the buddy buddy thing is an incorrect statement. now if sims is the coach at st liz, i really dont think that changes the roster at that school, so im not sure what bad status that team is n if he has actually left. yes sims did interview just like all other coaches that applied and it has not been announced who the new coach is. but who is ur nephew
April 17th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Nickerson was promised the football job by the dragons brass before interviews began at bishop o’dowd, if all other coaches that were finalists were against having Nickerson on their staff as the defensve coordinator.
The interviews were a charade from the beginning.
Sums up the fate and the debate regarding the parties associated with the dragons now. They deserve each other and after two mediocre seasons or worse, Nickerson will move back east or onto another coaching job after seeing his son graduate from bishop o’dowd in 2012.
It’s a dysfunctinal marriage made in hell
April 17th, 2010 at 10:09 am
If anyone thinks this information about Nickerson is false, maybe one of the good Sportswriters from the Bay Area News Group could interview Nickerson?
Asked Nickerson what he thought about his experience as a voting member of the interview committee?
What was it like for him to be on a committee interviewing candidates?
Didn’t he feel weird or strange about being on the committee?
Why didn’t he recuse himself from the beginning as would be the norm, as normal people would do?
What type of response did he get from coaches after discussing with them for him to be their defensive coordinator?
These questions and others should be asked of Nickerson and the bishop o’dowd brass.
April 17th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
As a former player that played on Coach Perenon’s 2004 Championship Team I am truly sad about the process. O’Dowd used to be about family and had values. Not everyone will like the head coach of any school. This goes back to when the priest were kicked out of the school and the new administration came me and started to clean house. When phelps was hired I was a senior at the school. We all knew who his brother was and we wanted no part of him. The senior parents were mad that they would hire someone from that family after what his brother did. IF I ever decide to visit that school again I will not even bother to meet the new coach because he does not deserve any former dragons support. Having been apart of O’Dowd program since I was 8 years old, I have seen how Coach P changed so many lives. Coach P you will always have my support. Bishop O’Dowd will not gain my support anymore. There goes any type of donation. Coach Nickerson I would like to see you win 200+ games… Probably not going to happen.
April 17th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
former dragon, as a current dragon parent i would just like to share with u that my experience with odowd has been nothing but positive so far. i am not associated with football but another odowd sport and i have to say that both the coach and phelps has made it clear to my son that education comes first. phelps has also been guiding my younger child who has a learning disability into achieving some of his academic goals. didn’t want to get all sappy, but i had to defend phelps who i feel is actually doing something to help my family.
April 17th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
I would not jeopordize my nephew like that. Evidentally Coach Sims told his mustangs last night at a banquet. Perhaps he was bluffing. The bottom line is , it is all a joke.
April 17th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Could one of the very good Sportswriters from the Bay Area News Group could interview Nickerson?
Ask Nickerson what he thought about his experience as a voting member of the interview committee?
What was it like for him to be on a committee interviewing candidates?
Didn’t he feel weird or strange about being on the committee?
Why didn’t he recuse himself from the beginning as would be the norm, as normal people would do?
What type of response did he get from coaches after discussing with them for him to be their defensive coordinator?
April 17th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
the dragon brass will remain silent about Nickerson being on the interview committee and not recusing himself.
Nickerson has nothing to say, he already said it with his own actions
April 18th, 2010 at 12:20 am
BHSFAN, Oh I have my facts str8…..watch as it unfolds.Obviously you are a berkeley Fan. I have ties to Berkeley and St LIz and am a O’dowd alum. Yes I would say I am in the know. As a matter of fact I know way more than I like. This is about the kids. Not sure how much you know about how St Liz or O dowds programs were run, perhaps you should check your facts!
April 18th, 2010 at 12:58 am
jayden trust and believe i got facts straight most def n the know, u cant even say if sims is gone what he did to the team, no matter who the coach at st liz is it wont change who will b on the team, kids dont enroll as freshmen or transfer there just to play footbll, sims takes what he gets there and make it work and out of curiousity does ur nephew play at b high and who is he. i have talked to a few people that was on the interview panel for the b high job the person they selected was basically all agreed upon by the whole panel. i think i might have more inside info then u do
April 18th, 2010 at 9:40 am
Obviously you have missed my point all together.
April 18th, 2010 at 10:34 am
Is there anybody reading this blog that supports Nickerson having been a voting member of the bishop o’dowd interview committee, lobbying for the defensive coordinator job and then pushing for and being named head coach?
If so, I would like to hear reasons why you support Nickerson’s abhorent behavior and actions?
April 18th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Crickets………………….
April 18th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
jayden if u have read my post u havent anwered anything, u havent stated any facts to ur accusations, if ur going to bash or have anything negative about a person/coach i think u should present facts, i sppuort coaches especially coaches that work hard and truely care about these kids, and i was curious who ur family member at b high and does he play football, can keep an eye on him for ya.
exdragonslayer i dont reccomend the way it supposedly went down but i will give the man a chance to do right by the kids and do a good job up there.
April 18th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
jayden since im missing it what is ur point
April 18th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Something that stuck into my mind when reading the Support Coach Perenon page’s wall was a quote: “Coach P seperated the boys who would become men from the boys who would always be boys.” And reading all of those stories really gives a sense of how much Perenon touched his players’ lives. To say that Perenon was just an arrogant prick simply does no justice to the man he truly is.
April 18th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Bbfan2, I just read your post. While it is nice that Phelps is helping your family I must say that my family has another point of view on Phelps and the current O’Dowd administration. I hope that your post was not intended to call into question the priority that Coach Perenon placed on academics while he coached at O’Dowd.
My son played played for Coach P a few years ago. My son was not a superstar. He was just a regular high school kid playing football at O’Dowd. But when he went to practice every day Coach P saw to it that my son received the same intense coaching that the superstars got. When my son’s grades dipped, Coach P immediately intervened. Coach P saw to it that my son got extra help from his teachers and guided my son to achieve to the best of his abilities.Coach P showed my son that he was just as important as the best players and the expectations were no different for any of the players. Coach P was a deciding factor in my son’s growth into manhood. My son, his mother and our family will forever hold Coach P in the highest regard for being the BEST ROLE MODEL for my son and for all of the kids who have played for him over the years.
Instead of writing on these blogs defending Phelps I am writing to question Phelps’ motivations and his role in the actions that resulted in Coach P being removed as football coach at O’Dowd. Most know that Phelps is the brother to Mike Phelps, ex basketball coach at O’Dowd. Most also know that Coach P and Mike Phelps did not see eye to eye regarding multiple sport athletes and other philosophical issues. It has been suggested to me that the decision to not retain Coach P was the result of a personal agenda on the part of the current O’Dowd president to get rid of Coach P. This point of view is not just mine and is very alive in the community discussion of the FB coaching change at O’Dowd.
Further, I am questioning the hiring practice that resulted in Hardy Nickerson being named the new FB coach at O’Dowd. Phelps should be answering how he allowed a current player’s parent be part of the selection committee, interview candidates, give feedback on the interviews, make it known that he wanted to be the defensive coach for the new head coach, have prior knowledge that Coach P was not going to be rehired and then agree to be the new coach if they could not find a suitable candidate who would take him as the defensive coach?
In reading this blog string it is clear that something is way wrong at O’Dowd. Many current parents of FB players have the same questions. Many members of the O’Dowd community are fed up with the school and Phelps and the athletic administration. Many of us know that enrollment for the next freshman class is significantly lower than it has been in past years. We also have heard that some of the best teachers are leaving the school and that other teachers are fearful of Phelps and his administration. I know that some long time veteran teachers have been pushed out in the pas t few years since Phelps arrived as the school’s president.
Something is very wrong at O’Dowd. When will the school’s board and those who are responsible for Phelps step up and start asking questions? Many of us parents are asking each other “who’s next”?
Hang in, Coach P. I know that thousands of alums, parents and (former) O’Dowd supporters are deeply distressed and are in your corner. My family’s support for O’Dowd has been terminated. I am sure others have done similar.
April 18th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Did odowd offer coach bowers from San leandro the coaching job?? I know that they’re from rival schools but that man seems like he should be on the top of the list after dominating odowd for number of years and he has his players buying into the program. Not to hate on the new coach but he has some big shoes to fill. We shall see how things play out this coming season and see if the dragons regret replacing coach p.
April 19th, 2010 at 4:39 am
I have not bashed anyone. I said I felt Sims was a great coach but I did not think he was ready for an assignment at a large school. Per a basketball parent at St Elizabeth, which he also coached coach simms basically went MIA after the season doing nothing to assist his seniors in the college recruiting process. He evedentally did the samething with his football team. He also sId he left. Rather large debt with the footbatea
that will impact the coming season. I do not question his coaching ability.
April 19th, 2010 at 8:33 am
eb fb fan,
My post in no way was intended to speak on Coach P’s priorities regarding football or academics. I stated that I am not involved in football, so of course I could never speak on that. I really truly hate that your family isn’t having a good experience at Odowd now and who knows what will happen in the future for our family. Next year, I may feel the same way you do. I will say that while there are positive aspects of the athletic program my son belongs to, such as the emphasis on his education first, there are some negative ones as well, but the education my son is receiving far outweighs any of that. Because of the experience we are having as a direct result of Phelps, I felt compelled to make it clear that there is at least one parent who does not feel like so many others on this blog do. Also, even though my son is not involved with football, he does know Coach P and has nothing but positive things to say about him.
April 19th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
curious jorge, i heard bowers did apply for the BOD job but i was wondering also if he even got an interview.
jayden if sims is the new b high coach we will see either today or tomorrow lol, if he can handle a big school will remain to b seen when he is a big school coach, as far as him going mia not sure whats that about would have to hear from him maybe personal/family things he had to take care of, sick, applying for on campus school jobs, he is not on campus coach at st liz, i cant answer that, im glad u said a parent was giving u info bout sims not dion anything for the senoirs, only had one hoop player that was a senoir and qualify academically and can play at the next level like that or even wanted to, as far as football, i can personally know he was shopping his senoirs from talking to college coaches, parents always feel that they coaches not doing anything for they kids, even coach carter has had parents think that, parents have to realize that its more how good they think they kids is, u need good film grades good sat test scores gettin n combines helps alot too. like i said i will go to bat for this coaches that really care for these kids and are trying to b good role models for these young men.
oh yeah and jayden whose the nephew i would mind keepin an eye on him for u. let u know when he not handling biz
April 19th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Bhsfan, I think coach bowers is way more qualified than nickerson. Just because he played in the NFL or this and that doesn’t mean he can handle being in the hot spot.
April 19th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Curious I totally agree. But there are also politics involved. When you get rid of a coach like Paul Perenon you gotta make a splash. The Guy was a freakin all pro. Can you see the spike in enrollment on the horizon??? My only question is that he stated coaching is in his blood. Why was this former all world player with coaching aspirations not retained by the Bears, picked up by an other NFL team, JC or college. Hell even Brian Cox coaches. I wish him luck but something smells foul at BOD.
April 19th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
bhsfan,Interesting context for in which you write! Obviously he is the new coach, why else would he have told people he was? As far as what the parent said the coach did or did not do was this ” he did not finish the job he started” All these boys are going on to college, that is not a question. They are great kids. Had the pleasure of meeting one today while he was at my gym. he didn’t want to talk much but he did say this. How do you coach someone for 4 years and teach them about commitment and doing there job and then you walk out on yours. This kid is eveidentally set for next year but he said Sims did for him and one other and no one else. But Like I said before, we will see next season what he is made of. I wish him well. The Mustangs were fun to watch, lets see what he and his crew to with the Jackets.
April 19th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
jayden not saying coach sims did or didnt do whatever it is that these players and/or parents wanted him to do, but i think all coach that read these blogs can agree, alot of players and parents think the kid is better than what they are, and sometimes its not ability, like i have already said its ur game film what u can do in the wieghtroom and are u consistant in there, ur grades and test scores, do u have the size to play ur position at the next level, for skill players whats ur 40 and do u have top end speed, where u good enough to get n some of the big combines and did u do well, if the kids has all these things lined up then its even easier for the kid to get recruited. so maybe kids that think they coach did do anything for them to get recruited they should b looking at themself first and c if they did everything they could do to help themselves get recruited. dont get me wrong their are coaches that dont help they kids and coach carter has been there, for a lot of kids like that. but dont see y sims wouldnt help his football players that was part of both his championships, he has gotten kids in college b4, he got an asian kid n to texas southern, big john john at portland st. bakari grant uc davis. one kid was wanted by cal but his grades wasnt good and test scores not high enough.
like i said b4 i will go to bat for the coaches that really work hard and care bout they kids
April 20th, 2010 at 11:02 am
bHSFAN, you need to be in the weight room with your guys, just kidding, the parents need to take responsiblity for their kids throughout the process, when we left Mack and Berkeley, its the same problem, parents need to stay on their kids. Run Rickey Run!
April 20th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
fast and physical ur funny, but im there everyday. if it dont rain we run today, come check us out, got isiah, rickey, delancy and naz on the relay.
and yeah i wish parents and the players would take more responsibility on this process
maybe i missed it but jimmy do u know who the next castlemont football coach will b, i hope its a good one
April 20th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Castlemont hasn’t hired yet. Word was they are doing final interviews today and Friday and should announce their hiring next Monday.
April 20th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
thanks jimmy, will u b calling b high or going up there today regarding the new hire
April 20th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
hope they hire a good coach at castlemont
April 20th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
I am about to place a call to Fred as we speak.
April 20th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
hahaha jimmy email me if u need to
April 20th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Damn Castlemont moved pretty quick on its hire Barnes just barely left. Anybody know who the front runners for that job are?
April 20th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
turner just resigned from yv according to the blogs
is the oc at bhs or odowd
or is he the new castlemont coach?
April 20th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Left YV for Castlemont?? I don’t know if that dude is ready for that environment.
April 20th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Ben Enos has confirmed Turner’s resignation. I’m sure he’ll have something posted here shortly, but as of right now he does not have another coaching job in place.
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:32 pm
hey jimmy any word on castlemont
April 23rd, 2010 at 7:08 am
I hear that Ruseel White will be the new Castlemont Head Coach. He was on the staff in 08.
April 23rd, 2010 at 7:09 am
I hear that Russell White will be the new Castlemont Head Coach. He was on the staff in 08.
April 23rd, 2010 at 7:35 am
Castlemont is expected to name its coach on Monday. I have heard White’s name mentioned as a potential top candidate. We’ll find out soon.
April 23rd, 2010 at 8:27 am
Is that Russell White the ex-Cal RB?
April 23rd, 2010 at 8:31 am
Yes it is.
April 23rd, 2010 at 8:42 am
Turner at YV got burned by the administration. He should have gotten the job but fishiness happened.
Weird awful off season for some outstanding head coaches either let go, fired, or not re-hired or awarded jobs.
Hopefully this will all get better and no more top head coaches will be pushed out for unproven commodities on a whim by others.
April 23rd, 2010 at 8:45 am
It has been silence about former Bishop Odowd head coach Perenon.
Has anybody heard anything about him?
Where is he going to coach in 2010. Is he about to pop up somewhere as a head coach – in a surprise move?