Football: For Bishop Amat, it’s back to the future

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Normally when programs are trying to change, they look to the future. Bishop Amat, however, is looking to its past. Which is not a bad thing.

After a month-long search to find football coach Mark Verti’s replacement, Amat hired Steve Hagerty, a former Amat player and assistant coach, who’s mother worked at the school for 16 years.

‘It’s good to be back here. It’s a special place,’ said Hagerty, who took time to talk to The Times about his new job after being introduced on campus.

Times: Is the tradition still there?

Hagerty: ‘I think the tradition is still there.... It’s always going to be there. There’s been some years in terms of playoffs and record, but it’s still there. It’s been in hibernation or dormant. A hard part is always to develop tradition, and that’s already there. Part of the thing that drove me back here as a coach and as a teacher is the quality of people and coaches that come to this campus.’

Times: You started at Amat, first as a player in the 70s and then as an assistant in the 80s, and left in 1992 to coach at Paraclete. Did you ever figure you would be back at Amat?

Hagerty: ‘Yeah, I figured someday I would be back. I didn’t think it would happen this quickly.’

Times: What have you learned as you’ve moved on in your coaching career?

Hagerty: ‘With every coaching job you learn more and more and you realize what’s important. I have an idea of what’s important. Having quality assistants is important. You learn a lot every year, but there’s no magical answers, that’s for sure.’

(Hagerty said there were no magical answers on two different occasions during our interview.)

Times: You just mentioned assistants, and that was my next questions. Does Daylon McCutcheon figure into your coaching staff? (McCutcheon an Amat and USC standout was the Lancers’ defensive backs coach last year and was part of the hiring committee that picked Hagerty.)

Hagerty: ‘I don’t have any particular guys. I have spoken with quite a few guys, but I haven’t had any interviews.’

Times: Do you know when you will do that?

Hagerty: ‘Starting next week I’ll look at staffing. I’m excited about that. I have a pool of people to pick from. That’s something new to me. I’ve had to beg, borrow and steal guys to come to my other programs.’

I guess having coaches wanting to be at your school will be one of the many perks Hagerty will enjoy at Amat. His first game as the Lancers head coach will be at Los Osos in Week Zero at the end of August. His first home game at Keifer Stadium will be in Week 2 against West Covina.

-- Jaime Cardenas