Football:
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
After five years at La Salle High School, Ben Buys is taking his passion for the game of football and for the young men who play it to Chaffey College.
The 42-year-old APU grad is a man of character, and his commitment to his players goes far beyond the football field.
He’s all about family, working hard, building bonds and doing everything within his power to help guide student-athletes to become better men, and in the process, preparing them to be responsible husbands and fathers.
Ben and Carlie Buys have been married for 17 years.
And they have three kids.
Nine-year-old Truman is the oldest, Tate is six, and the youngest is three-year-old Teddy.
The job/program Buys will inherit is the polar opposite of what he was hired to do in Pasadena.
In 2018, La Salle went 0-10.
In his first year (2019) at the helm, the Lancers went 6-4 in the regular season, and they even made a playoff appearance that season.
Chaffey, under Darrin Chiaverini’s stewardship, went 11-0, including two victories over state-ranked Pasadena City College.
Chiaverini didn’t even get the job until the summer of 2023, and thanks to his remarkable success, ‘Coach Chev’ is now the head coach at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Chiaverini had a message for Buys and the Panthers returning players.
“I am excited for Coach Buys taking over as the new head coach at Chaffey College. Chaffey will always be special to me, and I’m excited that our players will be led by a great man. I want to wish him luck on his new adventure. Go Panthers!”
Buys will begin his new gig in Rancho Cucamonga one week from tonight (March 1st).
I asked Buys to answer the following: What made the Chaffey job intriguing? How difficult is it to leave La Salle? What would you tell the returning football players at Chaffey?
Said Buys: “College football and the Inland Empire are home to me. To be able to coach college football close to home in a historical college like Chaffey is a dream job. The recruiting area and rich tradition are hard to beat at any level. The ability to plant deep roots and continue to build onto a winning program with an incredible community are no-brainers. This is my passion and purpose. I feel extremely blessed to be able to walk out my calling at Chaffey. It is always difficult to leave a place (La Salle) where you have poured your time, passion, and gifts and have relationships that span from board members to student-athletes. It is a great community.
To the Chaffey players, I’d say, let’s run it back! I’m all in and ready to deposit every gift, resource, and connection I have to see continued success on and off the field. We are going to develop you in every area of life and get you out. Let’s make some dreams come true while building a brotherhood and an environment where you can grow as a leader of society.
I start at Chaffey on March 1st and I’m ready to hit the ground running. We’re going to get right into workouts with the guys, develop the best staff possible for the success of the student-athletes, and getting on the road to keep the Panthers at home. Class of ’24, let’s go!”
Quotable:
Chaffey Athletic Director, Dr. Timi Brown: “After a highly competitive applicant pool, I am thrilled that we had the opportunity to hire Ben Buys. Ben brings a tremendous amount of coaching and recruiting experience to Chaffey College and I am confident that Coach Buys will continue the winning tradition of Panther Football. Ben is a true team player and someone who will always have our student-athletes‘ best interests in mind. I am confident in Ben’s ability to develop players both academically and athletically. We can’t wait to prepare for the 2024 football season.”
Former APU coach/current Bonita co-head coach, Bo Beatty: “Ben is the right man for the job. He prioritizes things correctly, and that’s faith, family and football. He will provide life-changing experiences for the young men he will coach. I am excited for Chaffey College.”
Former La Salle/COHS, current Weber State quarterback, Richie Munoz: “Without Coach Buys, I would not be the player I am today. He not only helped me become a much better football player, he also helped me become the man I am today by helping me grow stronger in my faith. I couldn’t have asked for a better coach. I know for sure that he is going to make make Chaffey College a better program with him running it.”
Spectrum Sports TV & FCA – Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coach, Chris Rix:”Coach Buys is an amazing coach and an even more amazing husband and father. He is a leader of men. He has helped develop champion men at every program he has helped lead and I know he will do the same at Chaffey. The Chaffey Community is blessed to have him and Carlie in the Chaffey family!”
Buys at La Salle:
2023: (4-6 overall, 1-3 in league)
2022: (5-6, 2-2)
2021: (1-8, 1-3)
2020: (3-2, 3-1)
2019: (6-5, 1-3)
Total: (19-27, 8-12)
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