2008 Woodie Awards
De Anza football gets new head coach
Natalie Elder
Issue date: 10/23/06 Section: Sports
Monday, October 23, 2006
Dan Atencio, De Anza College's defensive coordinator for the past four years is now the football team's head coach. He has 38 years of college football coaching experience including head coaching the San Jose Sabercats for one year.
"Dan's experience shows in many ways. He communicates with the academic staff excellently and understands how things work at De Anza and in the athletic department," said Kulwant Singh, De Anza's athletic director.
In June of this year, the former football head coach, Mike Mitchell, left unexpectedly and a new head coach had to be found. Five different coaches were interviewed, including coaches from Foothill College, and Atencio got hired.
"All of the assistant coaches were working very hard at the time," he said, "even though we were missing a head coach, a gap wasn't felt," said Atencio.
"De Anza is a great place to coach," Atencio says. "The school has great facilities and it is easy to attract players because of the school's academic standing. I find that the De Anza Student Body is very supportive as well."
Atencio says that this season will be defined by effort, not by the scores or wins. "We will play as hard as we can in every different play and give our 100 percent."
This year, the football team consists of 77 athletes 66 of which are freshman.
"De Anza has lots of talented players. They are disciplined and they work hard," Atencio said.
He adds that the sophomores are committed to the sport and to the school, and they help the freshmen accumulate to the new setting as well.
"The team this year is outstanding. They do everything the staff and I ask them to do, in and out of the field," says Atencio.
The football season will be over in three weeks and as of Saturday Oct. 14 the football team is 5-2 with a five-win streak.
"Most of us can't remember when we were 5-2," Singh said.
"In the short time that we've been able to work together [Atencio] has done a fantastic job."
Dan Atencio, De Anza College's defensive coordinator for the past four years is now the football team's head coach. He has 38 years of college football coaching experience including head coaching the San Jose Sabercats for one year.
"Dan's experience shows in many ways. He communicates with the academic staff excellently and understands how things work at De Anza and in the athletic department," said Kulwant Singh, De Anza's athletic director.
In June of this year, the former football head coach, Mike Mitchell, left unexpectedly and a new head coach had to be found. Five different coaches were interviewed, including coaches from Foothill College, and Atencio got hired.
"All of the assistant coaches were working very hard at the time," he said, "even though we were missing a head coach, a gap wasn't felt," said Atencio.
"De Anza is a great place to coach," Atencio says. "The school has great facilities and it is easy to attract players because of the school's academic standing. I find that the De Anza Student Body is very supportive as well."
Atencio says that this season will be defined by effort, not by the scores or wins. "We will play as hard as we can in every different play and give our 100 percent."
This year, the football team consists of 77 athletes 66 of which are freshman.
"De Anza has lots of talented players. They are disciplined and they work hard," Atencio said.
He adds that the sophomores are committed to the sport and to the school, and they help the freshmen accumulate to the new setting as well.
"The team this year is outstanding. They do everything the staff and I ask them to do, in and out of the field," says Atencio.
The football season will be over in three weeks and as of Saturday Oct. 14 the football team is 5-2 with a five-win streak.
"Most of us can't remember when we were 5-2," Singh said.
"In the short time that we've been able to work together [Atencio] has done a fantastic job."
Be the first to comment on this story