SportsFootball

New football coaches tackle season

Head coach Don Morel returning for his third year, explains a run-blocking assignment to offensive linemen (76) Manuel Villegas, (77) Sotero Alarcon, and (86) Tim Maiorca during the last few days before the opening game. / photo by Ryan Sones
Head coach Don Morel returning for his third year, explains a run-blocking assignment to offensive linemen (76) Manuel Villegas, (77) Sotero Alarcon, and (86) Tim Maiorca during the last few days before the opening game. / photo by Ryan Sones

by Erica Aguilar
Features Editor

With seven rookie assistant coaches, a returning defensive coordinator and a head coach starting his third year, the University of La Verne football team also returns 11 starters from its 7-2 1996 squad.

Under the guidance of head coach Don Morel, the Leopards are scheduled to play six home games and three away.

The Leopards will only travel to Occidental (Sept. 20), Menlo (Nov. 8) and Redlands (Nov. 15). La Verne will host Howard Payne from Texas Sept. 27.

“This will be a very interesting year. Right now, we have about 80 players on campus, however, we only have 58 on the team,” said Morel.

With eight assistant coaches, four of which are part-time, seven of them are new to the staff.

Tarn Sublett, the offensive coordinator, coached previously at Denison University in Ohio and served on the football staff at UC Berkeley. In addition to his coaching duties, Sublett will also teach at the School of Business and Economics.

Also joining the Leopard staff is Steve Johns.

Prior to La Verne, Johns coached at the University of San Diego and Occidental. He is now the defensive line and special teams coordinator.

A recent graduate from the University of Chicago, Mark Potocki is the tight end coach. Potocki is also in charge of quality control, that is, video and detailed work that the football team observes.

Returning to the football staff for his third year is Kirk Harmon, serving as defensive coordinator.

Morel has served as an assistant coach at ULV for four years and is an alumnus of ULV. He also served as an offensive line coach at California State University at Fullerton.

Morel said, “We have a number of players battling for starting positions. Certainly, we are looking for leadership from returners, such as [junior linebacker] Anthony Russo, [junior tailback] Ordell Williams and [senior wide receiver] Liron Wilson. [Senior] Tom Moreland will return to do all of the kicking duties.”

ULV will need to fill the holes left by tailback Anthony Rice and quarterback Ryan Hawkins. Rice graduated last year and Hawkins did not return to ULV.

The four part-time coaches are Steve Blair, Chris Kimberly, Jim Lynch and Mike Riggs.

A 1990 ULV graduate, Blair will coach the defensive backs.

Kimberly is a 1992 graduate of La Verne and will coach the wide receivers.

Coaching the outside linebackers will be Lynch.

Riggs, a 1985 graduate of ULV, will also coach the offensive backs.

According to Division III rules given to all of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) teams, the Leopards could only begin practice 17 days prior to their first game.

“I think the players we have will be tested with the lack of depth we have,” said Morel.

In addition, Morel said, “I have serious concerns about our physical condition on our opening day. We are going to have to really focus on both our physical and mental toughness.”

Opening up their first game of the season, the Leopards will host the Whittier Poets at Ortmayer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m.

Erica Aguilar, Editorial Assistant
Erica Aguilar
Other Stories
Ryan Sones
Other Stories
Previous article
Class of 2001: ‘Explorientation’ at Pilgrim Pines
Next article
Scandal sets ASF back

Latest Stories

Related articles

Baseball

A century of La Verne sports

With over 400 athletes across 18 teams, it is easy to take La Verne’s athletic programs for granted. But as with many great things, our sports came from very humble beginnings.
Arts, Etc.

Movie Review: ‘Infinity War’ breaks hearts, records

“Avengers: Infinity War” is a culmination of more than 10 years of cinematic character and plot development by Marvel Studios. After all this time, Marvel has finally begun to make momentous strides in their traditionally poor representation of women by creating female characters that are more than just a plot device.
LV Life

Roland Ortmayer, 1917-2008: Ort: A Life Well Lived

Born on Aug. 22, 1917, in College Park, Md., Roland “Ort” Ortmayer was destined for greatness. Yes, greatness is a broad word that can mean many things, but that is what Ort was to the many people he influenced in his life.
News

Ort, celebrated LV coach, dies

Roland “Ort” Ortmayer, called one of the most important figures at the University of La Verne during his 43 years as a professor, coach and athletic director, died yesterday morning of heart and kidney failure. He was 91.