LOS ANGELES TIMES 1994 : ALL-Valley / Football Team : Coach of The Year : Newcomb Finishes in Peak Form

Would anyone believe the Coach of the Year had a .500 record after four games this season?

Actually, yes. That’s because Antelope Valley High’s Brent Newcomb has been around the block a few times--make that 17 times--and he knows a thing or two about scheduling.

Because it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. That’s why Newcomb schedules the toughest folks he can find for early season nonleague games.

This year, that translated into a 2-2 start, with losses to traditional powers Loyola and Bakersfield.

Then came a week off to regroup. Then came nine consecutive convincing victories, capped by a 36-15 rout of Hart in the Southern Section Division II championship last Friday.

“It was one of those super years,” Newcomb said. “Everything just kind of fell into place those last nine games.”

More often than not, things seem to fall into place for Newcomb-coached teams. In his 17-year tenure at Antelope Valley, he has advanced to a section title game five times and won three championships--in 1981, 1988 and now, 1994.

For the latest effort, he is the 1994 Los Angeles Times Valley Coach of the Year.

It was one of the few honors that had eluded him. “It’s about time,” he said with a laugh.

Newcomb, 52, is a minor celebrity in the Antelope Valley, an affable man with a iron-strong work ethic.

During football season, he gets home from practice at 7 p.m., goes to bed about 8:30 and rises at 2 a.m. to study game films.

His preparation and discipline is translated to his players, who play hard, fast and with few mistakes.

They do all the little things: tackle exceptionally well, are terrific blockers and even address any adult present at a game as “sir” or “ma’am.”

After that fourth game this season, Newcomb let his team rest during the week off. And he took standout Jermaine Lewis out of the defense to let him concentrate solely on playing running back. The result: Lewis finished strong, with 1367 yards and 21 touchdowns, and his replacement at right cornerback, Cory Oggs, had a team-high three interceptions.

It’s how you finish, after all. And after his team rolled through the competition, Newcomb celebrated one of his finest seasons.

“You’ve got to enjoy it while it’s here,” he said. “I like all my teams and I hate to see it go. But it goes pretty quick.”

Time flies when you’re winning championships.