COOK FINDS RIGHT FIT WITH RATTLERS
Marcus Cook was waiting for the right opportunity to apply for his first football head coaching job.
When the Canyon Hills High School job came open, Cook jumped at the chance.
Friday, the Rattlers named Cook, 44, the school’s new head coach. He replaces Brandon Harris, who went 2-15 over the last two seasons.
“I didn’t want to rush into my first head coaching job,” said Cook. “But Canyon Hills is perfect. My goal was for my first job as a head coach to be at a school that needed me most.
“There is talent here. There is great administrative support.”
A longtime youth coach, Cook was an assistant at Lincoln the last three seasons. He called it “a great experience.”
“Class people all around and great players who worked hard,” he said. “I worked at (Santa Ana) Mater Dei with Bruce Rollinson and Mission Viejo with Chad Johnson.
“I learned a lot about organization and structure … especially from Coach Johnson.”
Cook grew up in Paso Robles and played running back at Oklahoma before his career was cut short by injuries.
“Getting hurt wasn’t all bad,” Cook said. “It allowed me to concentrate on my studies and get my degree.
“I know what it’s like to work hard. I want to pass that on to the players at Canyon Hills.”
Canyon Hills is the new campus on the site of what was known as Serra High.
The school has changed names, nicknames and colors and is getting a face-lift.
A new football field and a renovated stadium are in the works.
“The facilities are a bonus,” Cook said. “I want to change the culture, bring some pride to the program.
“I want my players to excel athletically, academically — sit in the first three rows in every class — and socially. I want them to be mentally and physically prepared. I want them to be on time.
“I want them to be a part of the community.
“I believe discipline and structure will make a difference. There needs to be consistency in the program. I believe strong minds make for success on the field.
“We do have some pieces.
Now it’s up to me to fit those pieces together.”
More football openings
Valley Center held interviews last week for its vacant football job and could have a decision by next week.
• Vista just posted its opening and appears to be as much as a month away from naming a new man.
• Brawley’s Jon Self retired after 12 successful seasons. The school could have his replacement next week.
• Southwest-El Centro is still accepting applications and is at least two weeks away from a choice.
Poway baseball
Caleb Allen, who played for Bob Parry at Poway High, was named to replace Parry as baseball coach.
Parry retired recently after 26 years as head coach of the Titans.
Allen, who played at Cal Poly Pomona, was the hitting coach at Westview the last four years. He also worked as an assistant at El Camino, Poway and San Diego Christian College.
“Honestly, as much as I love Poway, it was a difficult decision to leave Westview,” Allen said. “But Bob called and asked me to take over for him, keep the job in the family.
“I was super happy at Westview, but Bob’s call made all the difference.”