Pictured L-R: Maggiore with director of football operations, Jeff Platt & son, Nate Maggiore.

Football:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

He’s back!

And just in time.

Mike Maggiore, who guided West Covina to CIF-SS championships in 2004, 2010 and 2011 announced Thursday afternoon that he’s going to return as head coach of the Bulldogs when the 2020 season kicks off in August.

Maggiore led WC into battle from 1996-2016, making the playoffs in 18 of his 21 years at the helm, including 16 in a row at one point.

His postseason resume is among the top one percent.

Only the late-great Lou Farrar (five CIF titles), Greg Gano (four), Steve Bogan (four) and Tim Salter (four) have more championships over the past three decades than Maggiore.

The 52-year old coach wanted to get away for a few years and spend more time with his wife Katina and their son Nate.

And believe it or not, Maggiore had no intentions of returning to the sidelines like so many wanted him to.

But with the blessing of his wife and now the chance to coach his son Nate at the varsity level, Maggiore was willing to roll up his sleeves and get to work.

In the three years since his departure, the Bulldogs have gone a combined 5-25.

Consistent winning won’t happen over night, but rest assured Bulldogs’ fans, he will right the ship sooner rather than later.

His first move, even before telling his players on Thursday at 1 that he was coming back was to add former West Covina/Oregon/NFL great Walter Thurmond, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Seahawks to his coaching staff.

Matt Johnson, a former player at WCHS and APU will also add his talents and dedication to Maggiore’s coaching staff.

Johnson spent time on the coaching staff at APU and he’s currently the new WCHS wrestling coach.

This writer got to know Maggiore well back in 2006, when two of his best players, Nick Field and Shaun Rosenthal were seniors.

Both of these young men were facing the cruelest of fates, as Field’s younger brother Jacob and Rosenthal’s little sister, Sarah, were battling terminal illnesses.

Along with heroic support and love from Nick’s parents, Jorge and Lisa Field, as well as Rosenthal’s amazing mom, Louise, Maggiore helped rally the community behind these two great families in their time of need.

And he’s so much more than just a great football coach to the kids at West Covina.

He is very much a second father figure and a man who cares far more about helping his players become mature and responsible young men than anything that happens on a football field.

Maggiore has also been known to give second, third and fourth chances to kids who have troubled lives, because he’s able to see some good in everyone and believes every life is salvageable.

After a season-ending, 14-6 loss to Trabuco Hills in the playoffs back in 2006, I waited for Maggiore to address his players before getting a quote for a game story.

Maggiore spoke through gushing tears to his athletes and walked over and gave me a hug.

Still crying, Maggiore said, “I’m sorry, but you know how much these kids mean to me and all we’ve been through together.”

After answering questions and giving me one last hug, Maggiore walked directly over to Field and Rosenthal in the north end zone at West Covina High School.

The trio engaged in an embrace that none of them wanted to let go of.

This is who Mike Maggiore is.

To the West Covina players: be ready to work hard, because you’re getting a perennial winner and workhorse that is going to improve your play on the field. But most of all, you’re about to play for a coach that will guide you into adulthood and someone that will teach you lessons both on and off the field that you’ll be able to apply over the next 50 years of your life.

The coaching fraternity needs more Mike Maggiore’s and West Covina is lucky to have him back.

For this story, I asked Maggiore why he was coming back and why now?

Said Maggiore: “I had no plans to come back and coach at the varsity level, but when the job opened, I spoke with my wife and son and we all thought this might be the right time, especially considering I’ll be able to coach my son. I still have the need to build relationships and help our student-athletes become better athletes and more importantly, better adults. I see this as an important time for athletics and football in general. We had 16-20 kids to start the summer last year for freshmen. That is far less than usual, but this is the trend at most places. People are just not as motivated as they once were to start something. Once they do start, they realize how important it is and why being a part of something is so valuable.

I just want us to get better every year, and at the end of the day, what matters to me is the relationships that I’ve built and the friendships I’ve gained. Former players getting married, being good fathers and contributing to society is all that really matters. I do want to be competitive every year and get the absolute most of my teams, and I think that building relationships and creating the right atmosphere goes a long way toward being successful on the field.

We added Walter Thurmond (Class of 2005) and Matt Johnson (class of 2003) to the coaching staff. Walter is a super bowl champion and awesome with the kids. He knows technique as well as anyone and has a lot of connections in the game, but his true value is that he is just a good guy and he can coach. He helped out the last few weeks with the freshmen program. Matt is our new wrestling coach and he has college level coaching experience at APU. He played there and has coached there for six or seven years. He is also an excellent coach with a great football mind. These guys, along with some others are going to make it easier for me and a great experience for our players. I also want very much to thank my wife for supporting this decision. This wouldn’t be possible without her love and support. I am very excited to get started.”

Quotable:

Former West Covina, U of Oregon & Super Bowl champion, Walter Thurmond: “Coach Maggiore’s hiring is not only great for the school, but for the city of West Covina as well. He brings a competitive, championship mentality to a sports team. He understands what it takes to win, but more importantly, the cultivation and mentorship of the youth.”

Former CIF championship co-head wrestling coach with husband Donnie, Shirley Stephens: “It’s great to see WCHS football returning to an alumni coach who had so much success there. Mike truly epitomizes what it means to be a Trojan and a Bulldog, and we are thrilled to see him back coaching kids.”

Former West Covina/APU player & current Bulldogs’ wrestling coach, Matt Johnson: “Coach Maggiore is one of the best football coaches and builders of men that I’ve ever been around. He’s a tremendous leader, and not just for the football program. He also cares deeply about the school and the West Covina community as well. He’s proven that this program can compete at a high level and win championships. That competitive fire and spirit has not wavered, and he won’t accept anything less than championship level football.”

“On a personal note, this is a dream come true for me. My dad coached here with Maggiore from 1991 until I came into high school in 2000. Growing up, he was a super hero to me. All I wanted was to be was Mike Maggiore. It’s crazy how God works and now as a 33-year old man, my desk sits three feet from his. I am blessed with the opportunity to teach and coach along side him every day. This is where I belong. In the words of the great Jim Sweeney, “Bulldog born, bulldog bred, I’ll be a bulldog ’til the day I’m dead!”

Director of Football Operations, Jeff Platt: “This is a really big deal for West Covina. In fact, it’s probably the biggest thing that’s happened in my 40-plus years at the school with Mike coming back. He brings instant credibility and he’ll build a winner again. It’s the relationships he’s built with his players and their families that I admire most. His former players come back to see him and support the program. He has the kind of impact on young men that all coaches should strive to have, but very few do. We couldn’t be more excited to have Mike back.”

Former 2006 West Covina star Nick Field: “Coach Maggiore is not a just a coach. He is someone in your life. If you truly press into his friendship and come to him with a open heart, that will be a person that 10 years down the road you will realize the impact he had on your journey!”

Former 2006 West Covina star Shaun Rosenthal: “Coach Maggiore never was nor will he ever be just a coach. He is that one human that only comes around once in a lifetime. He played such a huge role in my athletic life and I have taken his lessons into my career in the real world. He is the person I can still call for advice and will I remember him for the rest of my life.”