Steve Kenyon will coach his 250th and final game Saturday, and regardless of outcome, the man bows out the ultimate winner.
Kenyon's legacy is secure. He's one of the absolute best coaches I have ever seen. Organized, determined, a man with a plan, Kenyon led Casa Roble and Del Campo to championship success in the 1990s after those programs had known mostly misery or worse for so many years before his arrival.
Along the way, he became a nationally recognized and honored strength and conditioning coach, imploring the benefits of lifting the right way, of making your body a machine. In recent years, he has worked with partner Dan Bunz run Speed Strength Training in Rocklin (www.speedstrengthtraining.com) to help prepare athletes of all ages maximize their potential.
Saturday, Kenyon heads the Sacramento-area law enforcement - the Guns - against the Hoses, the Sacramento-area firefighters, in the 36th annual Pig Bowl charity game at Sacramento State, a 1 p.m. kickoff. Kenyon led the Guns to eight consecutive victories before the Hoses prevailed 9-6 last season.
"This is the best coaching job in America," Kenyon said. "You practice two hours a day, three days a week for a month, and then you can have a beer with your players - legally. These are great, great guys, and they're great players. I mean, good night. These guys can compete."
Among Kenyon's players: Former Kennedy star Jeff Scorza at quarterback, former Galt great Mark Hatzenbuhler at fullback, former Burbank burner Andre Mallot at tailback, former El Camino, American River College and Sac State star Chris Palmer at receiver, former NFL player Chuck Espey in the trenches and former Sacramento Surge player Greg Coauette at safety.
The game will be shown on tape delayed Saturday night on Sacramento Access, Channel 17 on Comcast at 8 p.m. with announcers Walt Gray and Doug Kelly. And the coach with the extra bounce in his step? Kenyon, looking fit enough to still block and tackle.
