Football notes: Chris Nixon hired at Sheldon, deaths rock Capital Christian and Folsom
Chris Nixon is a head coach again, hired by Sheldon High School to lead the Huskies, where Nixon was the offensive coordinator in 2019. He was the Elk Grove head coach for nine seasons, including six powerhouse Thundering Herd teams, before his controversial departure following an 11-2 campaign in 2016.
Nixon was part of the fallout in the Elk Grove Unified School District tied to a shed that was initially cleared by the district to be constructed near the Elk Grove football field but later deemed to be unsafe. It was torn down. People in the district and on the Elk Grove campus lost their jobs, including Nixon, who said then he was a football coach, not a scientist or construction guru versed in hard hats and soil samples. He chose to resign rather than be terminated.
Nixon was pained by departing but inspired by his sons, Scott and Sean, who implored their dad with an otherwise sparkling coaching reputation to stay positive. Nixon’s top player at Sheldon just may be his quarterback son Sean, who passed for 1,766 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior in 2019 while defenders zeroed in. Sean Nixon is a natural leader and perfectionist with personality to boot (no one sported a better beard in 2019).
In recent months, Sean urged his father and younger brother Scott to step outside to catch some passes, to stay sharp. Now the Nixons lead a program that is adjusting to an altered season. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the California Interscholastic Federation to push the season to the winter and spring months.
“So, my hope is head coaching is like riding a bike because things will happen so quickly once December hits,” coach Nixon said. “It’s so crazy. Last year, Zoom was a wide-receiver motion. Now you’re on it, connecting with your team online to provide social emotional support. I have some things to learn about these connection platforms. I don’t even know what TikTok is but I’m sure Sean and Scott will have me signed up for that, too.”
Nixon’s sons grew up with a football in their arms. They were ball boys for their father’s prolific teams at Elk Grove, including outfits that went 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 10-3, 13-1 and 11-2. Nixon played for his father, Marshall Nixon, in the early 1980s at Nevada Union, an experience he longed to share with his own sons.
“It’s awesome being around my boys during their high school careers,” Nixon said. “I am grateful to (Sheldon principal) Paula Duncan and (athletic director) Denise Aguilar for this opportunity.”
Remembering Capital Christian voice Bob Wills
Bob Wills, the decades-long public address voice for Capital Christian sporting events, has died from a long illness. He was 80.
Wills was equal parts informative and charming when he worked the microphone, blending in details of the play with insight on the teams, all while holding court in the press box as streams of people would come in to say hello. Wills played running back and receiver at Cal from 1959-61 and once told The Bee that long seasons led him to appreciate sports more than the results when he called the action for Capital Christian.
Cal went 2-8, 2-7-1 and 1-8-1 while Wills was there, his final two seasons under young coach Marv Levy, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He is 95.
“Winning and losing doesn’t define a team or a player at the high school level,” Willis said during a game in 2017. “Effort does. At least it should. That’s why I love high school sports.”
Former Capital Christian athletic director Suzanne Baker was a spotter for Wills for football games for 10 years, leading to a friendship.
“My heart is so sad and broken,” said Baker, now working in the Natomas Unified School District as athletic director. “He was quick-witted and serious at the same time. Before varsity games, he would lean out the press box looking for wife Kay, antsy until she was safe and settled in. He loved Kay, he loved Cal, he loved music, he loved sports and kids.”
Said Capital Christian’s current athletic director, Aaron Garcia: “He was an incredible man that lived an incredible life. I rarely get awed by a man, but Bob was one of those that I’ve had the honor of meeting and working with.”
Folsom mourns death of Tommy Nunez
A big part of Tommy Nunez’s life was football. He suited up for the Folsom Junior youth program and the powerhouse Folsom Bulldogs high school team. He was kind, gregarious and ferocious in the trenches as a lineman, his longtime pal Kaden Richardson said, making his death of a rare form of cancer all the more stunning.
Just over a year since he graduated from Folsom, Nunez died Aug. 3 from rhabdomyosarcoma, or RMS, a cancer that forms in the soft tissue and mostly affects young people.
“Tommy was a great teammate, a great friend, an all-around great guy,” said Richardson, now playing at UC Davis. “He lit up every room he was in and knew how to make anyone smile. His laugh was contagious. He had an extremely high football IQ, and was a great storyteller. He was my teammate from 6th grade, and he was a trendsetter when it came to things such as fashion and music.
“”The loss of Tommy is huge for the Folsom community because it’s such a tight-knit family. His loss leaves a huge hole in our hearts.”
This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 4:00 AM.