Mountain View alum Joe Germaine makes return as head football coach
Joe Germaine is leaving Queen Creek to lead Mesa Mountain View’s football program.
He replaces Mike Fell as coach. Germaine is coming home. He led the Toros to a state championship as quarterback in 1993.
Mesa Public Schools announced the surprise move in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Germaine was an All-Arizona quarterback under Jesse Parker in ‘93, before playing at Scottsdale Community College and Ohio State. He also had stints in the NFL and the Arena Football League.
Fell led Mountain View the past five seasons. He had no comment on Mountain View’s decision to part ways with him.
Germaine, who led Queen Creek to a state title and 14-0 record as head coach in 2012, could not be immediately reached for comment.
“I want to thank Coach Mike Fell for all he has done for Mountain View Football in his five years as our head coach,” MPS Athletic Director Steve Hogen said in the release. “We are happy to have Joe Germaine back in Mesa coaching at his alma mater.”
Mountain View hired a new principal, Mike Oliver, who said in a statement that Germaine “is a model of excellence in every way for the students he will soon lead onto the field on Friday nights.”
“I am honored to work alongside Joe in building upon such a rich legacy,” Oliver added.
Wayne Syrek, a Mountain View alum and parent, said Oliver reached out to him after being hired and talked about the football program.
Syrek’s message to bring Germaine home.
“As a Toro parent, alumni and supporter, I am extremely excited to have a new principal like Mike Oliver who has a long track record of a vision of excellence and this hiring speaks to that,” Syrek said. “My message to Joe was, ‘Come home and help restore our football program and help us build our young men into men.’
“I’m grateful that he has chosen to do just that. I couldn’t be more excited.”
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