Marrujo Seeks 100th Victory at Valencia

Ask Valencia Coach Mike Marrujo about reaching a coaching milestone, and he will tell you about the weather.

Marrujo will try for his 100th victory at the school when Valencia, 3-0 and ranked fourth in Orange County, plays Troy at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Fullerton High School.

Marrujo enters the game with a 99-26-4 record at Valencia and a career mark of 120-43-5.

“I’m glad for all the players who have gone through Valencia and done so well,” Marrujo said. “But I haven’t really given it (100 victories) much thought. I’m more worried about the game and not having a heart attack in this 105-degree weather we’ve been having.”

When Marrujo took over at Valencia in 1981, the Tigers had lost their previous 30 games.

But Marrujo spent the next 11 seasons refining a program that is all substance and no flash, turning the Tigers into a championship team with tough defense and a brutal rushing game.

Valencia won seven consecutive Orange League titles under Marrujo before finishing second last year to Brea-Olinda. The Tigers have reached the Southern Section Division VI championship game three of the past five seasons, winning the title in 1987. They were 11-2 and reached the section semifinals last season.

Before taking the Valencia job, Marrujo revived the football program at Pius X. He took over the program in 1977, and was 21-17-1 in four seasons in the Angelus League.