Prep Review : Bowman’s Co-Coach Title for Real : Unusual Westminster Arrangement Has Produced a Power

According to Jack Bowman, he has found coaching nirvana. And he has found it just north of the San Diego Freeway.

Bowman is in his first season as co-coach of the Westminster High School football team.

Co- coach? You’re thinking the title has as much meaning as calling a trash collector a refuse engineer. A promotion to co-coach is like the TV assistant producer who was promoted to producer only to find the producer had created a new position for himself--executive producer. Right?

Well, Jim O’Hara, the other co-coach, admits when he asked Bowman to take the job, part of the reason was to give Bowman some recognition.

“He’s done such a great job for us over the years,” O’Hara said. “I thought it was about time he received some credit.”

And he does look over Bowman during games, literally. O’Hara coaches from the press box while Bowman is on the sideline.

More than a nice gesture, O’Hara knew Bowman’s 13 years at Westminster made him more than qualified to take on half the responsibilities of a head coach. After all, Bowman’s defense--he kept his responsibilities as defensive coordinator--has allowed an average of 9.6 points a game.

Bowman could not be happier. He had made no secret of his wish to become a head coach somewhere. But the situation at Westminster which he calls, “perfect,” has cooled any thoughts he had about leaving.

“I’m so pleased with the way things have worked out,” Bowman said.

So, what happens when it’s fourth and goal and the decision has to be made to go for the touchdown or kick a field goal.

Too many cooks, etc. etc.?

“We haven’t had any problems like that,” Bowman said. “It always seems we usually decide in favor of whoever feels strongest at the time on what to do.”

What makes Bowman, and indeed the assistant coaches at Westminster so happy is that they are allowed to coach.

“I wouldn’t say we had two head coaches,” Bowman said. “We have more than that. All our assistant coaches are given the same responsibility as a head coach in their particular area of expertise. Stan Clark (offensive coordinator and offensive line), Bob McAllister (special teams and quarterbacks) and Don Presby (strength coordinator and defensive line) are all head coaches.

“It’s a great situation,” Bowman said. “I’d be content to remain here for a long time if the situation remains the same.”

If things do remain the same, then the times would seem to be-a-changin in the Sunset League. League tradition received a severe blow Friday when the Lions beat Edison, 24-14, in the league opener. It was only the second time the Lions had beaten the Chargers in 12 years. Westminster is 1-0 in the league and 4-2 overall and has a strong chance at qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 1976.

Aforementioned assistant coaches are given a lot of the credit for turning things around. All are in their first season at Westminster. O’Hara got them after Principal Bob Boehme asked him what he needed to have a winning season. The Lions were 4-6 last year.

“I told him I needed a video unit, a classroom for the team, some other things and three coaches,” O’Hara said.

Anyone who wants to yell fluke should consider that the Lions’ four victories (Valencia, El Toro, Pacifica and Edison) have come against teams with a combined record of 17-7, with no team having more than two losses. And consider that each of those four teams was ranked in the top five of Orange County teams when they played the Lions.

“We’ve played hard against very good teams. Valencia, El Toro and Pacifica I think were all ranked fourth when we played them,” O’Hara said. “I joked to the guys that even though Edison was only ranked fifth, they should try hard anyway.”

Unhatched chickens: His team has practically clinched the Empire League title, but Mike Cochrane, boys’ cross-county coach at Katella, is taking nothing for granted. Even though his team has a two-meet lead over its closest rival, Cochrane knows his team must place at least fourth in the Empire League championships Nov. 1 at Yorba Regional Park, to win the title.

Which shouldn’t be too difficult. The Knights are 7-0 in league. But Cochrane, who has coached boys’ cross-country and track and field at Katella for seven years, remembers five years ago, under similar circumstances, when a league title seemed within reach and disaster stepped in.

“We had an outstanding senior in Brad Cleary (now at Cal Poly Pomona) and three good juniors in 1980,” Cochrane said. “We were undefeated going into our last dual meet (against Loara) and one of the juniors got injured. We lost the meet 29-27. Consequently El Dorado beat us in the finals and won the league championship.

“I don’t count on anything anymore until it’s in my pocket,” he said. Cochrane isn’t worried about this season’s team letting down in the finals with their big-meet lead.

“The kids kind of celebrated that we went undefeated in dual matches this season,” he said. “But they know there is still one more to go until the real celebrating can start.”

Katella is led by David Dement, Alfredo Resendiz and Marc Caldwell.

Ocean View update: The eligibility of Ocean View basketball players Ricky Butler and Desi Hazley Jr. has apparently been resolved. The Huntington Beach Union High School District issued a press release Friday stating it had received copies of court orders continuing the appointment of Lee Alan Jackson, an Ocean View High School attendance area resident, as the pair’s legal guardian. The appointment is for an indefinite period.

The release also states: “It is hoped that this settles the question of the boys’ eligibility status, and that this issue will not be brought up again.”

But the issue of Ocean View’s status is still uncertain. The Seahawks were barred from participating in the 1985-86 Southern Section 5-A playoffs and put on probation for two years by the CIF Southern Section executive committee. The committee ruled that Ocean View Coach Jim Harris used “undue influence” to retain Butler and Hazley, transfers from Lynwood, at the high school. The release also stated that Ocean View Principal John Meyers and a group of parents have appealed the sanctions, but the Southern Section denied their appeal. The group indicates it will appeal to the state CIF board.

Late score: Santa Ana High School, led by quarterback Eric Turner’s four touchdown passes, defeated Orange, 54-14, Saturday in a Century League game in Fred Kelly Stadium. Turner, a 6-foot 5-inch senior, completed 7 of 9 passes for 206 yards for the Saints (2-1, 3-2). His scoring passes were for 32, 59, 6 and 43 yards. Orange is 0-3 in league and 0-6 overall.

Prep Notes

Los Alamitos receiver/defensive back/punter/kicker/punt returner/kick returner Robbie Katzaroff scored all 17 points in the Griffins’ 17-3 win over Cypress Saturday. Katzaroff caught two touchdown passes, kicked two extra points and kicked a 35-yard field goal. It was the 13th consecutive game Katzaroff has scored. In 12 of the 13 he has scored at least one touchdown. “He’s just amazing,” said Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes. “With a player like him you don’t want to coach too much that he can’t use his natural ability . . . Asked if the natural cycle of high school football had finally affected Esperanza, 1-5 after its 3-0 loss Friday to Pacifica, Barnes said: “Esperanza is the best 1-5 team in the history of high school football.” Los Alamitos beat the Aztecs, 24-21, on the last play of the game when Griffins quarterback J.T. Snow hit, guess who, Katzaroff with a touchdown pass . . . Rod Hust, Canyon High football coach, comparing Capistrano Valley quarterback Scott Stark to Santa Ana quarterback Eric Turner: “Stark is the best quarterback I’ve ever seen on the high school level. He puts the ball right on the money. But Turner is just a notch below Stark. He’s a tough kid and a fine all-around athlete. Both are outstanding quarterbacks.” . . . Jon Borchert, Edison basketball coach, is looking for a walk-on coach for the Chargers’ sophomore team. Interested parties should contact Borchert at 962-1356, extension 245. . . . The Southern Section office is releasing its first press guide and record book since 1980 this week, thanks to a donation from the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. . . . Brea-Olinda’s girls’ basketball team, with returning starters Carrie Egan and Charlene Schuessler, is entered in the prestigious Tournament of Champions Dec. 19-23 in Robertson Gymnasium in Santa Barbara.