Cleveland Picks Costa to Coach Football Team

Mike Costa, Cleveland High’s freshman-sophomore football coach for five years, has been selected to replace the retiring Bill Paden as varsity coach at the Reseda school.

Costa, 33, guided the Cavaliers to a 37-12-2 record as freshman-sophomore coach, including 9-0-1 last season. He played high school football in Boston and coached youth football before coming to Cleveland.

“I’m excited, happy and ready to go,” he said.

Paden, 48, directed Cleveland to a share of the West Valley League championship in 1999, his first season as head coach. He helped revive the Cleveland track and field program in 1994 after a one-year hiatus and guided the Cavalier boys’ and girls’ teams to second- and third-place finishes, respectively, in the City Section championships last year.

Paden said he was leaving coaching to devote more time to his family. His two sons, Ahmad, a seventh-grader, and Khalil, a sixth-grader, are youth football players who will soon attend Cleveland.

“My goal is to be out the door by 3 o’clock every day,” Paden said. “I need to take care of myself and my family.”

Lou Hernandez, the school’s cross-country coach, will replace Paden as track coach. Paden will continue this year as an assistant track coach, working with Cleveland’s highly regarded sprinters.

Principal Al Weiner said it was a difficult decision choosing Costa over defensive coordinator Scott Reisbord, who expressed disappointment.

Costa will likely build his team around the passing combination of quarterback Antoine Barfield and receiver Randy Bundy.

Bundy, third in the 400 meters in the City championships, is expected to be among the region’s top college prospects for 2002.

* Once again, Jeff Engilman is mulling over whether to resign as football coach at Sylmar. Only this time, it may happen.

Engilman’s top assistant, defensive coordinator London Woodfin, has resigned to finish his teaching credential. Another top assistant, Dan Kelly, also may resign.

Engilman, who recently completed his 14th season at Sylmar, said he’ll make a decision after the football banquet on Jan. 25.

“I don’t know if it’s over or not,” he said. “Last year was a phenomenal year and every coach wants to go out on your own terms. I’m only 50, but it’s time for a new challenge.”

Engilman guided Sylmar to City Section titles in 1992 and ’94. He said if he decides to leave Sylmar, he’ll seek other coaching challenges.