A 12-game losing streak spanning two seasons plagued the Gabrielino High School varsity football team, but it was finally broken with their win against the Herbert Hoover High School Tornadoes. Visible on the sidelines was the committed coaching staff that helped lead them to this victory.
As of Oct. 2, the Eagles have experienced success, securing wins against the Hoover Tornadoes on Sept. 9, 26-7, and the Workman High School Lobos on Sept. 12, 33-6. A dedicated lineup of coaches, working tirelessly toward the team’s success, stands behind the players. At the head of the staff is varsity head coach Luis Gutierrez.
Coach Gutierrez is a recent addition to the Eagle family, having joined the coaching staff in March. He brings with him a wealth of experience; his coaching career includes time at South Hills High School, East Los Angeles College, and San Marino High School. However, this marks Gutierrez’s debut as head coach which brought its own challenges, like a new training regimen, organizing the team, and leading them to victory. Despite these challenges, he feels supported in his new role. “I’ve gotten assistance from athletic directors and everybody at the school,” Gutierrez says. “It’s been very welcoming.”
Armed with years of experience, Gutierrez brings an array of new strategies to the field. His fresh approach aims to take the Gabrielino Eagles to the top and stay there. Coming from a disappointing 0-10 season record last year, the team faced an uphill battle to regroup and come back stronger.
“I came in right away and treated it like this is a team that just became a champion last year,” says Gutierrez. After a disappointing season, effective coaching became much more important. Coming into each game with a strong strategy was key.
To lead the Gabrielino football team to two consecutive victories, Gutierrez shared that he, “…set high expectations for them, so they know what’s required of them.” A positive mentality proved both crucial and effective in securing the team’s victories.
Along with high expectations, he emphasizes that consistency is key. “We were consistent with those expectations and they’ve grown and then they’ve reached them,” Gutierrez says.
Maintaining an unwavering stance on expectations has paved the way for success and facilitates reaching the high standards set for the team.
However, Gutierrez’s coaching philosophy extends beyond just winning games. “At the end of the day, this is one big family,” Gutierrez says about the atmosphere of the team. He emphasizes that the goal is to create a community. “I want these guys to be competitive, but to be open with one another and be welcoming to one another,” he adds.
Football is a team sport in the end. A team that extends from the players on the field to the coaches on the sidelines. “We’re not quite where we need to be yet. There are still six more games in the season, but we’re progressing exactly where we want to be. And I couldn’t be more proud of the kids,” Gutierrez concluded.
