Christensen back in charge at Carson
Mike Christensen is back at a place he knows well.
Christensen was hired this summer as the new football coach at Carson High.
“It is kind of like we’re starting a new program,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of kids, but they’re awesome. Of all the places I’ve been, Carson has been the best experience.”
Christensen’s first stop at Carson lasted four seasons (2006-09). The Colts posted a 9-4 record in his first season, then went 11-3, won the Marine League and advanced to the 2007 City Section championship game. In 2009, Carson went 10-3, won another league title, and then Christensen departed for Loyola.
He was the 2007 Daily Breeze Coach of the Year and a 38-14 overall record at Carson.
After stops at Loyola, Lakewood and Peninsula, Christensen is back at Carson.
“We don’t have a lot of numbers and we’re still getting kids cleared,” he said. “It’s an ongoing process.
“We’re going to have one team (varsity) for sure. The kids are working their butts off and I would hate to see them not be able to play.”
Christensen is replacing Arnold Ale, who led the Colts for the last five seasons. The Colts were 2-9 in 2019 and played just two games during the shortened season in the spring.
Christensen said when he arrived to begin workouts he had just 12 players. The number was up to 35 this week.
The Colts open the season Friday at Roosevelt.
“It’s almost like groundhog day,” Christensen said. “When I first took over (in 2006), we had 140 kids and after grade check it was down to 35. The kids were awesome. The second year we were in the final and we had some good things going. The program was in great shape when I left.
“One thing that Carson has is that it’s still Carson. Families are still there, kids are still there. It is going to be a process to get them out, and it might take a little longer because of the starting position that we’re in.”
The Colts will be challenged by a nonleague schedule that includes games against Inglewood (Justyn Martin) and Serra (Maalik Murphy), who are led by two of the top quarterbacks in the Class of 2022.
“It is going to be a year in progress,” Christensen said. “We keep preaching to them that this is just the beginning. By the end of the year, we will be a good team. I think we’re heading in the right direction.”
Of course, the cloud that hangs over every football program is COVID-19.
“This is all still kind of new for me, because I didn’t coach the last two years,” he said. “I’m kind of on pins and needles until we get rolling. My biggest fear is that they don’t get to play after they’ve been working so hard.
“It’s definitely been a crash course in football. It’s been a lot of work and I want them to enjoy it. I’m confident we’ll be fine.” scrimmages this weekend.
Here is our list of five players we’re expecting to have a breakout season: TERRELL BRADSHAW, INGLEWOOD » Showed his explosiveness as a freshman last season and now he’s at Inglewood. He should get a lot of targets from Justyn Martin.
AIDAN JACKSON, SAN PEDRO »
Former Peninsula coach Mike Christensen is back at another spot where he coached before — Carson.
the field, standing 6-foot6. He could be a big target at wide receiver or a dominant beast on the defensive side of the ball. RODRICK PLEASANT, SERRA »
Pleasant got a taste of varsity football last spring, and then after he dominated during the track season, a lot of colleges took notice. What happens after he puts in a full football season?
JORDAN SANDERS, TORRANCE »
Sanders took advantage of the shortened spring season and terrorized offensive lines, recording 13 sacks in five games. What kind of numbers will a full season bring?