Hometown Report: Who will coach Jesuit football next?

Chris Fahey's cellphone is beyond blowing up. It's about to melt.

The Jesuit High School athletic director is fielding calls, text messages and emails about his school's sudden football vacancy.

With Dan Carmazzi leaving Jesuit after 34 seasons for his alma mater, Christian Brothers, the buzz within the prep community has been twofold: How does Carmazzi revive a CBS program that hasn't won a playoff game since 1986, and who takes over at Jesuit? Everyone, it seems, is offering Fahey suggestions.

"I've heard every big name in town," Fahey said.

Jesuit hasn't formally reached out to anyone, but alumni have certainly reached out to coaches around the state, dropping names in hopes of drumming up an all-star cast of candidates. Jesuit can be a gem of a job with plenty of motivated students, booster support, feeder programs and tradition. And Fahey added it is not imperative that Jesuit hire a coach with parochial ties.

Friday, Jesuit football players said they heard that Kris Richardson of Folsom had signed on with the Marauders. Not true, and Richardson is content at Folsom with young sons coming up through the football ranks.

Many readers wondered when The Bee would announce Casey Taylor of Del Oro had been named the new coach. More wild speculation. Taylor has a great thing going in Loomis but is wise to listen when other programs call for a chat.

Other names that have come up: Joe Cattolico of Pleasant Grove, Mike Johnson of Franklin, Chris Nixon of Elk Grove, Joey Montoya of Placer, Drew Rickert of Bradshaw Christian, Mike Gimenez of Whitney, Chris Jones of Vista del Lago, Eric Cavaliere of Oak Ridge, Ernie Cooper of Granite Bay and Mike Alberghini of Grant. Alberghini's preferred shade of red isn't that of Jesuit, but the one on his face on the sideline while he coaches his beloved Pacers.

Each of these coaches is established and successful at his school, and it can be argued a switch to Jesuit is not a move up. Also, the coaches on this list play on Friday nights before large crowds and rabid community-linked atmosphere.

Despite all that Jesuit offers, its Saturday afternoon home games have become bland. Even the rooting section has steered clear. Jesuit is exploring an upgrade to its football facilities and perhaps playing some "home" Friday night games on another campus. Installing lights at Jesuit is no easy or affordable task.

Other names linked to rumors include John Volek, the former Sacramento State coach and retired Sierra College athletic director. Volek is intriguing, but he also promised his wife, Vicki, that he'd never be a head coach again. She prefers him home cooking and helping shepherd the grandkids.

Another is Ed Lombardi. The retired Elk Grove and Sheldon coach with 200-plus wins is exceptional in bonding a community and campus to the football team.

Fighting chance

Sacramento City College's baseball team won't be short of motivation today. The Panthers (18-18) host Butte (20-16) in a single-elimination Northern California Regional play-in game at 2 p.m., keeping their playoff streak alive since 1976 and looking to extend another. Sac City last suffered a losing season in 1970 at 13-15.

Around the region

• Cosumnes River College's baseball team won the competitive Big 8 Conference at 15-9. Santa Rosa, Diablo Valley, Sierra and Sac City finished within two games and Delta and Modesto within three games. Even more remarkable was that coach Tony Bloomfield's team did not have a practice or game on campus because of construction of CRC's new facility. The Hawks (20-15) will be the home team in a NorCal Regional best-of-three series against Sequoias (23-13) starting Saturday at American River. Also, Sierra (20-15-1), the 2008 state champion, will open at Laney of Oakland (28-7).

• Football will be the talk of the day on the golf course for the Kris Fontes Memorial Golf Tournament at 8 a.m. on Monday at Whitney Oaks Golf Club in Rocklin. Among the 36 foursomes: former Elk Grove High stars Ryan Dinwiddie and Lance Briggs.

• Read more articles by Joe Davidson

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