Football: Marina’s new coach knows how to reach players
Based on the fact the new football coach at Huntington Beach Marina, Kevin Oberlander, played football in college with the head coach of Hollywood Bernstein, Masaki Matsumoto, and is best friends with Matsumoto, offers a peek into what’s ahead for the Vikings.
Matsumoto was The Times’ coach of the year this past season. He believes in teaching more than just football, and Oberlander, 30, who was the coach at Upland Western Christian, follows the same ideas.
“We run things the same,” Oberlander said. “We love talking X’s and O’s, but the bottom line is reaching the hearts of young men.”
Marina has struggled in football in the tough Sunset League. It was 1-9 last season.
There could be a day when Oberlander and Matsumoto, former teammates at Trinity International University in Chicago, are reunited. But for now, they’re going their separate ways while teaching character and football to players at different schools.
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