Head varsity football coach Guy Gardner’s impact on the team and community has led him to receive much praise for the team’s success, earning both the LA Times and LA Rams Coach of the Year Awards.
“He teaches us discipline, and the way he gets the most out of each player comes from the respect we have for him and the way we listen to what he’s teaching,” sophomore quarterback Ryan Rakowski said.
“He’s really smart, and he has a great mind for football,” Rakowski said. “I really respect him as a person, and I learn so much from him—not just on the field, but in life. I try to take what he teaches me and apply it to everything I do.”
“He’s got an old-school approach [to coaching],” Rakowski said. “But he’s also adapted to the newer styles of football, so he knows how to balance both. One of the biggest things he teaches is physicality, which really sets him apart.”
Rakowski smiled when recalling how Gardner connects with his team.
“Before every game, he comes up to me, checks in, and asks how I’m doing,” Rakowski said. “That kind of care really shows, and it makes us want to do everything for him and for the team when we’re out there.”
Freshman Weston Reis reflected on Gardner’s impact leading up to winning CIF.
“He really preached the motto ‘take everything one play at a time, don’t let any situation get too big,’” Reis said. “That mindset has helped me stay focused and not get overwhelmed, no matter what’s going on in the game.”
Despite being a freshman, Reis felt needed by his team, thanks to Gardner’s approach.
“He pushed me to be a bigger leader, even though I’m only a freshman,” Reis said. “That’s not something you often see from coaches with younger players, but he really believes in us…It’s nice to have that trust, and it makes us feel like we’re part of the decision-making process.”
Reis also emphasized Gardner’s ability to connect with the team.
“He bonds with all of us,” he said. “He really cares about getting to know each of us individually, not just through football but connecting with us outside of it as well. That’s something that makes him stand out as a coach.”
Senior Cole Norman shared the valuable lessons he has learned from Gardner over the past four years.
“Focus on what’s going on right now, because if you focus too much on what’s gonna happen next, you’ll never even be able to get there,” Norman said.
“He also taught us to never take anything for granted,” Norman said. “Whether it was a big win or a tough loss, he always made sure we kept pushing forward and didn’t get complacent.”
One thing Norman valued was Gardner’s unwavering support.
“He would never give up on anyone,” Norman explained. “Even if you made a huge mistake…he would tell you to keep going. He would never bring you down…and never let you give up.”
For the team, Gardner’s guidance is something that has always remained.
“All four years, his words stayed the same: one play at a time,” Norman said. “Even in life, one play at a time, one step at a time, will always carry you forward to that next step.”