Times’ coach of the year: Coley Candaele of Vista Murrieta
Coley Candaele left the relaxing beach community of Carpinteria to start a new football program at Vista Murrieta nine years ago.
Everything came together this past season, when the Broncos won their first Inland Division championship and went 14-0 on the field. Candaele has been selected The Times’ coach of the year.
Corona Centennial had been 6-0 in championship games until Vista Murrieta knocked off the Huskies in the Inland final, 35-28.
But Candaele’s biggest challenge occurred in October, when his team was forced to forfeit five nonleague victories after declaring a player ineligible over incorrect information supplied by a school in Georgia.
The community was upset. Players were disappointed. Candaele kept everyone’s focus on taking care of what the team could control, and the Broncos proved they belonged among the elite teams of 2011.
Candaele’s record at Vista Murrieta is 84-17.
— Eric Sondheimer
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
