Bates Replaces Boshers as L.A. Baptist Football Coach

Less than 2 weeks after the high school football regular season, the first coaching change in the Valley area has been made.

Mark Bates is the new coach at L. A. Baptist, succeeding Mike (Bo) Boshers who resigned after posting a 12-17 mark in 3 seasons.

L. A. Baptist was 4-6 this fall, but Boshers’ resignation has nothing to do with his record, according to Athletic Director Maury Neville, who added that Boshers has a full-time job as a youth minister for an area church.

At 23, Bates is believed to be one of the youngest head coaches at the 11-man level in the state. Bates--a 1987 graduate of USC, where he played baseball one season--came to L. A. Baptist this season and was the team’s defensive coordinator. Before that, he was an assistant at Alpha League rival Village Christian, his alma mater, for 4 seasons.

“Mike did a good job to turn some things in the program around, and I hope to build on those successes,” said Bates, who also teaches math and physical education at the Sepulveda school. “I think because of my age I’ll be open to ideas more than other coaches are.”

Greg Frazier, the junior varsity football coach at Village Christian who used to coach Bates when he was in high school, is being considered as an assistant.