Clovis West coach brings tradition to position in flux

Clovis West coach brings tradition to position in flux
Interim coach would like to keep position for 25 years.
By Andy Boogaard / The Fresno Bee

The voice was unmistakable, a younger Dennis Lindsey, for sure.

The instructions launched deep from the throat of Coby Lindsey on Monday morning arrived with command, organization and respect at Clovis West High’s opening football practice for the interim football coach and — oh, by the way — the son of Clovis Unified’s longtime chief of athletics, who retired in June.

But Golden Eagles players, assistants and boosters said they don’t see the younger Lindsey as a district gift, a token appointee by surname.

They see loyalty, enthusiasm and, above all, stability, in a Golden Eagles graduate who vows he’s not going anywhere.

And what a change that would be for a program experiencing its fourth head coach in four years and seventh in 12.

“Coby is bringing back what Clovis West has been in the past,” defensive coordinator Brian Allen said. “He’s bringing back the traditional aspects of the program.”

Lindsey, a 1987 graduate of the school and, for the past six years, an assistant coach in the program, also is bringing back Allen. And Russ Harding. And Bill Crawford. And joining the staff is offensive coordinator Jerry Campbell, who was fired as Clovis’ coach following last season.

Allen and Harding were not going to work a second season under Gary Kinne, who left for another high school job in Texas a month ago.

Crawford had assisted every game in the school’s 30-year varsity history before stepping down before last season because of differences with Kinne, who would win the Central Section Division I title.

No matter. They disliked Kinne’s style, but they’ve embraced Lindsey.

“Kinne drew a hard line,” Allen said. “He didn’t listen; he didn’t want any input. And I couldn’t work for somebody that hardnosed.

“Now we have a guy who … wants to bring back the tradition, and I definitely want to be on board to see that.”

The Eagles practiced from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, with a 30-minute break in between.

What mattered to senior safety Tanner Lareau was this: “Coach Lindsey’s a character guy, a tough coach, and he wants to get to know all the players on a personal level, which I like a lot.”

Coby Lindsey, however, has heard the whispers: He got the whistle because of dad.

And he doesn’t fault the perception: “If I was an outsider looking in, I would think exactly the same way. But my father had nothing to do with this. And I’m not going to live my life based upon what people outside of my circle of influence think.”

That administration, without dismissing the possibility of retaining Lindsey, said it will open the job nationally following the season.

“If they think they can find Vince Lombardi, someone better, that’s fine,” he said. “I will work for that person. … I have a blind sense of loyalty to this place.”

If it’s Lindsey’s choice, he’ll also be there in 2035, and as the head football coach all along.

If it’s his choice, he’ll be a Clovis West version of Tim Simons, the former 24-year Clovis icon now at Clovis North.

“I’d love that, I’d love that,” said Lindsey, married and with three children ranging from 8 to 12 years old in the Clovis West district.

Glancing up on a wall in his coaching office, not far from a ledge holding four of the school’s eight section football championship trophies, he added:

“I’d like a little plaque saying, ‘Coby Lindsey was here for 25 years.’ That’s exactly what I want.”

Tulare better? Really?

Eight months after completing a 13-0 season with a 42-33 conquest of El Diamante for the section’s D-II championship, and only hours following Tulare’s first practice Monday, Redskins coach Darren Bennett made a startling statement: “We have a chance to be better than last year.”

That would be without quarterback/linebacker James Guerrero, one of the section’s top two-way players in history.

And that would be without running back Jontell Reedom, who rushed for 5,000 yards and scored 64 touchdowns the past two seasons.

Guerrero’s replacement at quarterback? Senior Trevor Jones, who played several positions, including quarterback, at Mt. Whitney the past two seasons.

“So far, so good,” Bennett said. “He’s athletic, runs well and has a really good arm. He had a real good summer in passing tournaments.”

Reedom’s replacement at running back? Xavier Stephens, a 5-11, 200-pound sophomore, who led the Redskins’ junior varsity to an unbeaten East Yosemite League season last year.

“He’s big, strong and fast,” Bennett said. “He’s got a chance to be possibly the best running back we’ve had.”

But, for 16-year coach Bennett, the optimism begins up front, where Tulare returns seven of its top eight offensive linemen.

Leader of the group is senior guard Paul Perez, a 6-foot, 290-pounder and 2008 second-team Bee All-Star.

And the Redskins also have two of the section’s most accomplished players in receiver Marquess Wilson and receiver/linebacker/return specialist Edward Dillihunt.

Both were Bee All-Stars, and both are being recruited by several colleges in the West, including Fresno State, Washington State and Utah.

Tulare will open the season Sept. 11 at Golden West.

The reporter can be reached at aboogaard@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6336.