Milpitas Football Coaches Step into the Classroom

With football season around the corner, Milpitas coaches from pee-wee to high school got a leg up from the pros on Saturday. But they didn't spend any time on the field. They spent it in class.

With pens and notebooks, coaches from Milpitas High and Milpitas Knights got advice from Ron Lynn, director of player personnel at Stanford University and former NFL assistant head coach; Pete “Mike” Michaletos, who led the football program at Kennedy High School in Fremont for 46 seasons; and Dan Navarro, former Mountain View head coach, now at Gunn High School with 35 seasons. 

The event was open to all Bay Area coaches, but the crowd was decked out in Trojan navy blue and gold, while the Milpitas Knight’s coaches wore navy blue hats with the yellow “M” logo.

“We wanted to reach out to youth coaches to support them and help,” said King, head coach of Milpitas High School. “We want to go to clinics, get coached up, take notes, do reading and see how it works with our guys.” 

This is the first time coaches have had outside speakers. 

“How often do you get three great coaches with years of experience in a room with you,” asked King. 

Inside the theater, Lynn demonstrated both offensive and defensive formations using an old-fashioned overhead projector. With a black marker, he drew up Xs and Os, creating plays and scenarios.

“What plays did you run when you saw these formations,” Lynn asked the coaches.

They discussed two deep defensives and offensive and running back plays for the coaches to use. 

Navarro used his playbook to show the coaches how he ran offensive plays and defensive formations that helped his teams win games over the years. 

Coaches asked questions on how to cover trip formations (three wide receiver sets) with the defenses they used. They asked the speakers what formations to run on goal line offensive and defensive possessions. Last season’s playbook was analyzed on how to be more effective on the gridiron. 

“Coach King put together a coaches' camp, where we talk football," said , Milpitas High assistant football coach, adding, "You have to take extra courses just like school … and try to learn as much as possible."

Carswell volunteers as president of the Milpitas Knights, whose season starts July 23. Last season, the Milpitas Knights program had a banner year, snatching up across three age groups. 

Last season, the Trojans posted a 3-3 record in the rugged SCVAL De Anza League and a 6-4-1 record overall. They fell .

King said he's determined to win a third CCS Championship and will have a talented core group back this fall led by quarterback Tony Sauceda. 

“Kelly and I talk; I have always had great regard for Kelly; I always appreciated his approach to the game and players," said Lynn. "Now it’s give them some ideas to think about, and they are going to come to our camp at Stanford so we’ll get a chance to talk some more and watch video.”

The Trojans plan to visit Stanford this summer for further coaching before season officially starts in September. Players are already training and will get their pads in August.