Coach-of-the-year candidates in high school football keep expanding

With two weeks remaining in the high school football regular season, it is becoming clear that there is a long and growing list of candidates for Coach of the Year. They are considered based on exceeding expectations, winning championships or contributing to a program turnaround when no one saw it coming.

Let’s review the coaches’ excellent performances so far this season:

Los Alamitos football coach Ray Fenton stands with his players Thursday during the Alpha League opener at SoFi Stadium.

(Craig Weston)

• Ray Fenton, Los Alamitos: The man looks so fit he could run in any stadium without breaking a sweat. Few expected the Griffins to be 8-0 at this point, let alone be in contention for a Southern Section Division 1 playoff spot. He built a team of best friends to believe in themselves, no matter the opponent. San Clemente and Mission Viejo are the only teams standing in the way of a 10-0 regular season.

• Terrance Whitehead, Crenshaw: When head coach Robert Garrett was placed on administrative leave before the start of the season, the Crenshaw graduate and longtime assistant took over. Garrett helped coach him, and Crenshaw is 7-1 heading into the Coliseum League final against King/Drew on Friday. The Cougars show discipline, resilience and play to make Garrett and his assistants proud.

  

  Crenshaw interim coach Terrance Whitehead talks with quarterback Danniel Flowers.

  (Robert H. Helfman)

• Brad Vonnahme, Crespi: Who predicted the Celts would go 8-0 and head to the Del Rey League championship in the third season of a massive Vonnahme rebuild? He hasn’t made transfers, instead relying on players who start as freshmen and learn the game and progress. There is a group of sophomores being developed that could be very good in future seasons.

• Jason Negro, St. John Bosco: The Braves have established themselves as the No. 1 team in California, if not the country, while relying on an improving second-year quarterback and four receivers en route to college success. He knows that championships are won with the help of the offensive and defensive lines, and those are the areas to watch as the playoffs approach.

  

  St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro has his team ranked No. 1 in the country.

  (Craig Weston)

• Jon Ellinghouse, Sierra Canyon: The Trailblazers are 8-0 and no one has come close to beating them. The season will depend on their ability to break through and disrupt the dominance of St. John Bosco-Mater Dei. Their defense is clearly the best in Southern California.
• Dylen Smith, Palisades: He lost his field, his weight room and almost lost his team because of the Palisades fire. And yet, the Dolphins persevered and went 8-0 with players staying and a few new ones who wanted an adventure with no guarantee of success.
• Chad Johnson, Mission Viejo: While the Diablos (7-1) earned wins over Santa Margarita, Folsom and San Diego Lincoln, Johnson challenged his team with a tough non-league schedule and they rose to that challenge. He has confidence in quarterback Luke Fahey and has no doubt in this team’s ability to improve.
• Rick Clausen, Westlake: An assistant coach his entire life, Clausen decided to accept the head coaching job even though his wife died of cancer. He somehow managed to balance his parenting and coaching duties, helping a Westlake team go from 0-10 last season to 8-0 this season in his first year.
• Tony Henney, Dana Hills: Wherever Henney goes, he succeeds. He has been a head coach at Nordhoff, Trabuco Hills, St. Bonaventure and Westlake. He has Dana Hills at 8-0 heading into Friday’s game against 8-0 Laguna Beach, whose own coach, John Shanahan, has surrounded himself with an elite group of assistants, including former JSerra head coach Scott McKnight. The winner of the battle of the undefeated might not be stopped until the end.

• Kevin Hettig, Corona del Mar: With his team up 8-0 and tough games ahead, Hettig has quietly and skillfully prepared the Sea Kings to stay focused and continue to improve each week.

  

  Corona del Mar head coach Kevin Hettig, quarterback Brady Annett and NMUSD Superintendent Dr. Wesley Smith.

  (Don Leach/Staff Photographer)

• Jason Miller, Leuzinger: Who loses their only quarterback who can pass and still allow the team to win? Miller and the Olympians (6-1) are poised to end Inglewood’s reign as league champion by using 5-foot-8 Journee Tonga as a versatile offensive weapon and backup quarterback.

• Mike Moon, Oxnard Pacifica: Moon is trying to get his perennially underrated 8-0 team to lead the Marmonte League standings. He helped develop junior quarterback Taylor Lee while managing rising expectations and winning close games.

  

  Mike Moon of Oxnard Pacifica has his team at 8-0.

  (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

• Raymond Carter, Torrance: The former All-City running back at Crenshaw has his team 8-0, beating local team after local team led by junior quarterback Gibson Turner, who has 20 touchdown passes.
• Mark Carson, Rio Hondo Prep: Year after year, Carson prepares Rio Hondo Prep for success. This year’s 8-0 start is no different. A challenge ahead will be playing in a tougher playoff division.
• Darryl Goree, Palm Springs: An 8-0 start has the Indians talking about town. Senior linebacker Koa Rapolla was released and is averaging 13 tackles per game.
• Rick Curtis, Crean Lutheran: Curtis figured out how to best utilize one of the Southland’s best athletes, quarterback/leader Caden Jones, and it led to an 8-0 record.