Year-round grind leads 5 Sacramento-area football coaches to call it quits. ‘I’m worn out’
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In recent weeks, five well-known area coaches turned in their whistles to let someone else do the heavy lifting. These aren’t quitters. They have simply had their fill. They are:
▪ Josh Crabtree at Pleasant Grove in Elk Grove.
▪ Jim Gray at Bella Vista in Fair Oaks.
▪ Brad Hunkins at Woodcreek in Roseville.
▪ Kyle Landes at Vista del Lago in Folsom.
▪ Jake Messina at Oakmont in Roseville.
Each had varying degrees of success and none stepped aside because they were forced out. Each outgoing coach expressed to The Sacramento Bee the fatigue that comes with the grueling grind of remaining competitive. Each stressed a desire to spend more time with family, and each said they could get back into coaching as an assistant, or in some role in education-based athletics.
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▪ Another name of note is Chris Nixon, who coached championship teams at Elk Grove High and led Sheldon to three playoff teams. He engaged in a heated exchange with Sheldon athletic director Jason Bumbaca late in the season after parents walked through an unlocked gate to angrily confront Nixon about playing time for their sons. Sheldon’s administration made it clear that it did not want Nixon back, and it became immediately mutual as players and assistant coaches backed their coach.
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Post-script: I could be mistaken, but I think at this point (and for a variety of reasons), five of the EGUSD high schools do not have a head coach securely in place.
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In recent weeks, five well-known area coaches turned in their whistles to let someone else do the heavy lifting. These aren’t quitters. They have simply had their fill. They are:
▪ Josh Crabtree at Pleasant Grove in Elk Grove.
▪ Jim Gray at Bella Vista in Fair Oaks.
▪ Brad Hunkins at Woodcreek in Roseville.
▪ Kyle Landes at Vista del Lago in Folsom.
▪ Jake Messina at Oakmont in Roseville.
Each had varying degrees of success and none stepped aside because they were forced out. Each outgoing coach expressed to The Sacramento Bee the fatigue that comes with the grueling grind of remaining competitive. Each stressed a desire to spend more time with family, and each said they could get back into coaching as an assistant, or in some role in education-based athletics.
...
▪ Another name of note is Chris Nixon, who coached championship teams at Elk Grove High and led Sheldon to three playoff teams. He engaged in a heated exchange with Sheldon athletic director Jason Bumbaca late in the season after parents walked through an unlocked gate to angrily confront Nixon about playing time for their sons. Sheldon’s administration made it clear that it did not want Nixon back, and it became immediately mutual as players and assistant coaches backed their coach.
...
(Paywall article $)
Post-script: I could be mistaken, but I think at this point (and for a variety of reasons), five of the EGUSD high schools do not have a head coach securely in place.
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