Prep notes, rankings: Coaches quit, coaches return as offseason merry-go-round spins
Tim Moore is stepping out of the high school football coaching furnace for all the right reasons.
He’s had enough. Twenty-two years at his alma mater of Oakmont in Placer County, and 13 as head coach, exceeded his expectations of longevity. His legacy isn’t so much producing playoff teams — the Vikings halted a 16-year drought by reaching the 2019 postseason — but leading solid teams with kids of high academic achievement. He had 15 players earn National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame scholar honors.
Moore stepped away from coaching to, “find better balance in my life for the many people I love and have been supported by for so many years.”
Meanwhile, in the Elk Grove Unified School District, Josh Crabtree is bounding back into the coaching pressure cooker for all of the right reasons.
He was last a head coach in 2011, at Sheldon, and got out to coach at American River College and then to try his hand at administration. He accepted the Pleasant Grove gig last week because coaching is still in him.
The region loses a gem on Moore and gets one back in Crabtree, a dynamic personality who kids gravitate toward. What Crabtree had to say will resonate with everyone who has coached, then didn’t, then did again.
“I tried to fall out of love with coaching, and tried very, very hard,” Crabtree said. “Even doing the admin thing for a few years, I tried to convince myself that I was done with coaching. But I couldn’t stay away. I watched my parents trudge off to jobs they hated their entire lives. I want my own kids to see that if you work hard and find something you’re passionate about, work can be a joy. I’m back to my passion.”
More coaches will bow out, especially after the playoffs conclude. It’s become the norm. As rewarding as this gig can be, it can be exhausting leading a program. Coaches must endure mentoring scores of teenagers, fundraising, scheduling, preparing for games, coaching the games and dealing with parents, some who want the coach’s head on a platter because their 5-foot-9, 170-pound son isn’t getting recruited by USC.
It’s finding a balance that makes it work, or doesn’t. Or the grace period simply runs out.
“We lose so many coaches in our area because this job is a stress monster,” Crabtree said. “You get it from every direction sometimes, and all the negative things take over your day-to-day thoughts.”
Coaches often learn upon their return a bit more about the game, about kids, about themselves. Crabtree knows.
“I’ve come to realize that beyond all the X’s and O’s and all the practice plans and ordering helmets, the kids are still young people who need to be cared for,” Crabtree said. “I’ve coached kids who made it to the NFL and others who had to become a father, had to get a job, and years later, they don’t care how to run a counter against a 7-man box. It’s life lessons that matter. As a head coach, you have the unique chance to work with a wide swath of kids.”
He added, “As coaches, we hold a unique role in their development as young men and we need to honor and respect that. That’s why I’m back. I’m super impressed with the kids at Pleasant Grove who stuck it out during a tough season. Kids don’t like to be embarrassed, and that’s never changed. I look forward to meeting them and coaching them. There’s nothing like high school football. It’s unique and it’s special, and man, my juices are going.”
Coaching royalty
Monterey Trail visits Granite Bay in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II thriller Friday, and the respect runs deep between the coaches.
MT coach T.J. Ewing has known GB leader Joe Cattolico for decades, from their Bay Area playing and coaching days. They ran into each other plenty in their Delta League days, when Cattolico coached in that league. Cattolico’s father, Butch Cattolico, is also on the Granite Bay staff and has assisted Joe for years. Butch was a 264-game winner at Los Gatos.
“Great coaches, great guys,” Ewing said. “I’m looking forward to seeing them. They’re coaching royalty.”
These programs have met just once in the playoffs, in D-I in 2010, won by Monterey Trail.
Tremain back
Tyler Tremain expects to return to action Friday and lead Folsom at home against Lincoln of Stockton in D-I play. The senior quarterback star missed the final three games with a non-throwing shoulder injury sustained in a loss to De La Salle. Folsom is a different team with him in the mix, to be sure.
Lueth back?
Top-ranked and top-seeded Rocklin bounds into D-I play as the favorite, but will the Thunder have star quarterback Kenny Lueth in the lineup? The senior has not played since Sept. 24 against Del Oro, when he strained his knee on a diving touchdown score.
Backup Joey Roberts has been solid in relief, backed by the encouragement of Lueth on the sideline, a sound run game, superb receivers and a dominant defense. Rocklin hosts Sheldon on Friday.
THE BEE’S TOP 25
1. Rocklin 10-0
2. Jesuit 9-1
3. Granite Bay 8-2
4. Folsom 7-3
5. Vacaville 8-2
6. Antelope 9-0
7. Elk Grove 7-3
8. Lincoln 7-2
9. Sheldon 8-3
10. Monterey Trail 6-5
11. Vanden 8-2
12. Yuba City 7-3
13. Whitney 6-5
14. Del Oro 7-4
15. Cap Christian 7-3
16. Vista del Lago 7-3
17. Sacramento 9-2
18. Woodcreek 7-3
19. Christian Bros 7-4
20. Placer 5-5
21. Roseville 7-4
22. Union Mine 8-1
23. Dixon 7-3
24. Pioneer 8-1
25. Bradshaw Christian 8-1
Bubble teams (alphabetical order): Colfax 7-3; Cosumnes Oaks 5-5; Delta 7-3; Foresthill 8-2; Inderkum 5-5; Liberty Ranch 6-3; Rosemont 8-2; Sutter 8-1; West Park 6-5; Wood 8-3; Woodland, 9-2, Woodland Christian 9-0. - Compiled by Joe Davidson
Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs
All games Friday at 7 p.m., unless noted
Division I
No. 8 Sheldon at No. 1 Rocklin
No. 5 St. Mary’s at No. 4 Edison
No. 6 Lincoln-Stockton at No. 3 Folsom
No. 7 Del Oro at No. 2 Jesuit, Saturday, 1 p.m.
Division II
No. 9 Lodi at No. 1 Central Catholic
No. 5 Whitney at No. 4 Antelope
No. 6 Elk Grove at No. 3 Vacaville
No. 2 Granite Bay at No. 7 Monterey Trail
Division III
No. 9 Roseville at No. 1 Oakdale
No. 5 Patterson at No. 4 Yuba City
No. 6 Sacramento at No. 3 Manteca
No. 7 Christian Brothers at No. 2 Lincoln
Division IV
No. 8 Wood at No. 1 Kimball
No. 5 East Union at No. 4 Merced
No. 6 Placer at No. 3 Vista del Lago
No. 7 Dixon and No. 2 Vanden
Division V
No. 8 Woodland at No. 1 Escalon
No. 5 Ripon at No. 4 Pioneer
No. 6 Hilmar at No. 3 Sonora
No. 7 Casa Roble at No. 2 Union Mine
Division VI
No. 8 Linden at No. 1 Bradshaw Christian
No. 5 Rosemont at No. 4 Hughson
No. 6 Waterford at No. 3 Livingston
No. 7 Liberty Ranch at No. 2 Argonaut
Division VII
No. 8 Rio Vista at No. 1 Woodland Christian
No. 5 Delta at No. 4 Esparto
No. 6 Big Valley Christian at No. 3 Le Grand
No. 8 Mariposa County at No. 2 Vacaville Christian
This story was originally published November 9, 2021 at 7:46 AM.