High School Sports

See photos of iconic Grant football coach Mike Alberghini’s long career

By Sacramento Bee photo staff

Updated May 2, 2021 3:42 PM

Grant High school Mike Alberghini has coached his last football game. Since becoming the head coach in 1991, he won a Sac-Joaquin Section-record 282 football games, 27 consecutive playoff berths, 17 league championships, seven section titles and a state championship. Here’s a look at some of the moments along the way.

Grant High School leading rusher Onterrio Smith, who later played for the Minnesota Vikings, watches during practice as head coach Mike Alberghini goes through a drill on Sept. 4, 1997. — Grant High School leading rusher Onterrio Smith, who later played for the Minnesota Vikings, watches during practice as head coach Mike Alberghini goes through a drill on Sept. 4, 1997. Sacramento Bee file

Mike Alberghini, athletic director at Grant High School, laughs as one of his students jokes around with him in the cafeteria at Grant High School during lunch in 1997. — Mike Alberghini, athletic director at Grant High School, laughs as one of his students jokes around with him in the cafeteria at Grant High School during lunch in 1997. Sacramento Bee file

Mike Alberghini talks with students between classes inside his office at the Grant boys gym in 1997. — Mike Alberghini talks with students between classes inside his office at the Grant boys gym in 1997. Sacramento Bee file

Grant head football coach Mike Alberghini gets a ritual ice water bath from tackles Jamar Brooks and Marin DuCre on Saturday, Nov. 11, 1997, at Grant High after a 44-24 victory over Del Campo sends them to the city championship against Elk Grove. — Grant head football coach Mike Alberghini gets a ritual ice water bath from tackles Jamar Brooks and Marin DuCre on Saturday, Nov. 11, 1997, at Grant High after a 44-24 victory over Del Campo sends them to the city championship against Elk Grove. CHRIS CREWELL Sacramento Bee file

Mike Alberghini, head coach of top-ranked Grant High School, yells at some of his players for taking an extra long water break during a practice on Monday, Aug. 27, 2001. — Mike Alberghini, head coach of top-ranked Grant High School, yells at some of his players for taking an extra long water break during a practice on Monday, Aug. 27, 2001. Sacramento Bee file

Grant High School football coach Mike Alberghini, left, talks with Nevada Union High School football coach Dave Humphers in the stands of Jesuit High School during a game between Jesuit and Florin High School on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002. The two coaches enjoyed a spirited rivalry in the 1990s and 2000s. — Grant High School football coach Mike Alberghini, left, talks with Nevada Union High School football coach Dave Humphers in the stands of Jesuit High School during a game between Jesuit and Florin High School on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002. The two coaches enjoyed a spirited rivalry in the 1990s and 2000s. Randall Benton Sacramento Bee file

Pacers head coach Mike Alberghini argues with referees in 2005 after a Grant touchdown was called back in the first quarter in Saturday afternoon’s City Championship Game between Grant and Nevada Union at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento. Alberghini was ejected in the 4th quarter for unsportsman like conduct. — Pacers head coach Mike Alberghini argues with referees in 2005 after a Grant touchdown was called back in the first quarter in Saturday afternoon’s City Championship Game between Grant and Nevada Union at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento. Alberghini was ejected in the 4th quarter for unsportsman like conduct. José Luis Villegas Sacramento Bee file

Grant head coach Mike Alberghini takes one of the only quiet moments he has before the start of a game – during the national anthem – against Oak Ridge at home on Sept. 22, 2006. — Grant head coach Mike Alberghini takes one of the only quiet moments he has before the start of a game – during the national anthem – against Oak Ridge at home on Sept. 22, 2006. Sacramento Bee file

Grant coach Mike Alberghini is doused with water by his players after his team defeated Burbank 55-6 to capture the Sac-Joaquin Division II Football Section Championship at Folsom High School Friday, Dec. 5, 2008. — Grant coach Mike Alberghini is doused with water by his players after his team defeated Burbank 55-6 to capture the Sac-Joaquin Division II Football Section Championship at Folsom High School Friday, Dec. 5, 2008. Andy Alfaro Sacramento Bee file

Coach Mike Alberghini prepares the Grant football team for the game against Long Beach Poly in the CIF State Championship Open Division Bowl Game at the Home Depot Center on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008. — Coach Mike Alberghini prepares the Grant football team for the game against Long Beach Poly in the CIF State Championship Open Division Bowl Game at the Home Depot Center on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008. Randall Benton Sacramento Bee file

Grant High School football head coach Mike Alberghini waves to well wishers as he and Principal Craig Murray celebrate the school’s state championionship with at parade and rally to City Hall on Dec. 22, 2008. — Grant High School football head coach Mike Alberghini waves to well wishers as he and Principal Craig Murray celebrate the school’s state championionship with at parade and rally to City Hall on Dec. 22, 2008. Hector Amezcua Sacramento Bee file

Grant High School head coach Mike Alberghini, has his forehead rubbed by one of his players as he thanks players and staff for their victory in the state championship this weekend during a rally on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2008. — Grant High School head coach Mike Alberghini, has his forehead rubbed by one of his players as he thanks players and staff for their victory in the state championship this weekend during a rally on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2008. Hector Amezcua Sacramento Bee file

Folsom High School head coach Kris Richardson, left, congratulates Grant coach Mike Alberghini following a nationally televised game in Folsom on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, that Grant won 49-14 in front of 20,000 fans. Neither team would lose until their rematch in the section final – which Grant entered ranked No. 1 in state. But Folsom turned the tables, winning its first section title in 20 years, 41-20, and became the region’s dominant power for the next decade. — Folsom High School head coach Kris Richardson, left, congratulates Grant coach Mike Alberghini following a nationally televised game in Folsom on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, that Grant won 49-14 in front of 20,000 fans. Neither team would lose until their rematch in the section final – which Grant entered ranked No. 1 in state. But Folsom turned the tables, winning its first section title in 20 years, 41-20, and became the region’s dominant power for the next decade. Randall Benton Sacramento Bee file

Grant High School football coach Mike Alberghini talks with his offensive squad before a game with Paradise High School at Grant in Sacramento on Aug. 24, 2012. — Grant High School football coach Mike Alberghini talks with his offensive squad before a game with Paradise High School at Grant in Sacramento on Aug. 24, 2012. Andy Alfaro Sacramento Bee file

Grant High School’s head coach Mike Alberghini, center, coaches and players observe a moment of silence for former Grant High School assistant coach Edward Coleman before the game at Grant against Del Oro High School, Friday, Sept. 21, 2012. — Grant High School’s head coach Mike Alberghini, center, coaches and players observe a moment of silence for former Grant High School assistant coach Edward Coleman before the game at Grant against Del Oro High School, Friday, Sept. 21, 2012. Brian Baer Special to The Bee

Grant High School coach Mike Alberghini hugs Nicole Clavo, mother of JJ Clavo, before the team’s rescheduled first-round home playoff game against Beyer High School on Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. Grant player JJ Clavo was fatally shot Friday during an off campus trip to get food before the game’s originally scheduled start on Friday. — Grant High School coach Mike Alberghini hugs Nicole Clavo, mother of JJ Clavo, before the team’s rescheduled first-round home playoff game against Beyer High School on Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. Grant player JJ Clavo was fatally shot Friday during an off campus trip to get food before the game’s originally scheduled start on Friday. Paul Kitagaki Jr. pkitagaki@sacbee.com

Grant High School football coach Mike Alberghini talks with his offensive squad before a game with Paradise High School at Grant in Sacramento on Aug. 24, 2012. — Grant High School football coach Mike Alberghini talks with his offensive squad before a game with Paradise High School at Grant in Sacramento on Aug. 24, 2012. Brian Baer Special to The Bee

Grant Pacers head coach Mike Alberghini speaks with his team during the third quarter of a game against Capitol Christian in Rancho Cordova on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. — Grant Pacers head coach Mike Alberghini speaks with his team during the third quarter of a game against Capitol Christian in Rancho Cordova on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. Brian Baer Special to The Bee

Grant Pacers head coach Mike Alberghini walks into the stadium named after him before his team hosts the Downey High School Knights in a first-round playoff game on Friday Nov. 2, 2018. — Grant Pacers head coach Mike Alberghini walks into the stadium named after him before his team hosts the Downey High School Knights in a first-round playoff game on Friday Nov. 2, 2018. Brian Baer Special to The Bee

Grant Pacers head coach Mike Alberghini, talks to his team after their loss to Downey High School Knights, in a first-round CIF playoff game, Friday Nov. 2, 2018. — Grant Pacers head coach Mike Alberghini, talks to his team after their loss to Downey High School Knights, in a first-round CIF playoff game, Friday Nov. 2, 2018. Brian Baer Special to The Bee

Grant High School Pacers head coach Mike Alberghini talks to his players before a game against the Davis High School Blue Devils in Davis, Friday, Aug 23, 2019. — Grant High School Pacers head coach Mike Alberghini talks to his players before a game against the Davis High School Blue Devils in Davis, Friday, Aug 23, 2019. Brian Baer Special to The Bee

As the sun sets, Grant High School head coach Mike Alberghini stands on the sideline as his team plays at Davis High School, Friday Aug 23, 2019. — As the sun sets, Grant High School head coach Mike Alberghini stands on the sideline as his team plays at Davis High School, Friday Aug 23, 2019. Brian Baer Special to The Bee

Grant High School head coach Mike Alberghini wears a mask as he stands with his team for the national anthem on Friday, April 16, 2021, as the Pacers played their final game of a coronavirus-shortened spring season against Capital Christian High School in Rancho Cordova. — Grant High School head coach Mike Alberghini wears a mask as he stands with his team for the national anthem on Friday, April 16, 2021, as the Pacers played their final game of a coronavirus-shortened spring season against Capital Christian High School in Rancho Cordova. Jason Pierce jpierce@sacbee.com

Grant High School head coach Mike Alberghini poses for photos with his team after winning the final game of the season – and his career at Grant – on Friday, April 16, 2021, against Capital Christian in Rancho Cordova. It was Alberghini’s 282nd win, setting a section record. — Grant High School head coach Mike Alberghini poses for photos with his team after winning the final game of the season – and his career at Grant – on Friday, April 16, 2021, against Capital Christian in Rancho Cordova. It was Alberghini’s 282nd win, setting a section record. Jason Pierce jpierce@sacbee.com

This story was originally published May 1, 2021 at 5:00 AM.