Football: Moorpark players get to experience a 16th season with Tim Lins

Let’s hope parents and fans of Moorpark High School appreciate this stunning fact: Football Coach Tim Lins has begun his 16th season as head coach.

When it comes to competent coaches teaching kids about football and life, Lins is one of the best. And I would have lost a bet thinking he’d stay for 16 years.

For those who don’t remember, Lins was the coach at Encino Crespi for 10 years, succeeding Bill Redell. His 1993 team had Troy Thomas as its defensive coordinator when it lost to unbeaten Eisenhower in the Division I semifinals, 7-3, in what would have been a giant upset.

He left for Moorpark in 1999 because he lives down the street from the campus. But he was a longtime private-school supporter, having graduated from St. Paul, so the decision to become a public-school teacher was surprising.

“It’s been a great place,” Lins said. “We’ve had good players, good coaches. I’ve been blessed.”

Moorpark was the program that lost out in the re-leaguing process. It got stuck for at least the next two years in the Marmonte League with Westlake, St. Bonaventure and Oaks Christian. Lins is good about making sure his teams compete no matter who’s on the team. He’s had three players make it to the NFL from Moorpark. He’s also sent lots of players to military academies.

The Musketeers have two sophomores that people will hear about in the coming years. There’s 6-foot-2, 200-pound safety-receiver Zane Pope and 6-5, 200-pound tight end Tanner Baker. By season’s end, both should be very good.

Getting a good quote out of Lins is hard. He’s so quiet, composed and deliberate. He’s someone you just write about based on his actions, not his reactions. He’s no drama, and Moorpark is fortunate he showed up in 1999 and is sticking around.

Now, if only he can figure out how to beat his mentor, Redell, who’s still coaching at Oaks Christian. Lins is 0-3 vs. Redell, who’s known for his one-liners.

“I think Tim is outstanding,” Redell said “He’s a great leader. I was lucky to have Tim coaching with me.”

But what about training him to offer the media good quotes?

“I’ll have to call him and work with him,” Redell said.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer