Necas resigns as football coach

By Bruce Whetten
Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Friday, November 28, 2008 11:11 PM MST


After six years as the head football coach at Douglas High School John Necas announced earlier this week he is stepping down.


Bulldog football coach John Necas is stepping down after six years as head coach at Douglas High School. Necas was 20-41 during his tenure, 5-1 against Bisbee.

Necas leaves with a 20-41 record. Five of those 20 wins came against Bisbee where he was 5-1 during his head coaching tenure.

In an exclusive interview with the Douglas Dispatch earlier this week Coach Necas there were a number of factors that resulted in him deciding to call it quits.

“The bottom line is I had my shot for six years,” he said. “We were able to make the playoffs one year and made a run the following year. There were a lot of different circumstances that resulted in us not winning enough ball games.”

Necas took over the football coaching job from Abe Grijalva in 2003 and was 2-8 his first year. The second year the Bulldogs improved to 4-6. In 2005 he coached the Dogs to the 4A DII state playoffs where 16th seeded Douglas faced No.1 Scottsdale Arcadia in the first round. The Bulldogs battled Arcadia and did not back down but in the end could not upset the No.1 team in the state.

The following year, 2006, got off to an auspicious start as the Bulldogs were upset by their rivals the Bisbee Pumas in the first game of the season. That hangover lasted the entire non-conference season as the Dogs went on a four-game skid.

Come conference time Necas’ squad posted a 5-1 record but it was that one loss, by seven points to Palo Verde, that kept Douglas from making a return trip to state as the Bulldogs finished 17th in the power point rankings; just a few percentage points away from the final slot.

Douglas was 3-7 last year and an injury riddled season this past year compounded by player problems on and off the field saw the Bulldogs finish 2-8.

The coach also missed several games himself as a nagging foot injury finally escalated to the point where he needed surgery in order to save his foot.

Necas said his injury did not factor into his reason for stepping down. He felt he left the team in very good hands with Ron Ellsworth stepping in on the interim basis while he attempted to recover.

“Even though I was not at the games or at practice I was still involved and very much aware of what was going on with the team,” he said. “I thought overall the staff did a great job considering what we were dealing with – injuries, ineligibilities and the suspensions.”

Today’s athlete has changed from the “old days” when players seemed to be more dedicated and disciplined.

“There are a lot of outside influences that make coaching today very difficult,” he said. “It’s tough to get a serious commitment from them.”

Necas feels this season had potential to be a good year but injuries early on in practice showed him this was not going to be a “normal” year.

The coach said a season ending knee injury prevented Diego Suarez, a two-year starter, from ever playing a down this season. Then you had Spencer Grijalva’s injury two days before the Bisbee game. Chawn Acosta was also injured in the preseason scrimmage and missed a majority of the season. Gali and Alexis Aguirre and Ryan Valencia were also banged up and didn’t get to see as much playing time as he, or they, would have liked.

“Every team has injuries to deal with but our injuries were devastating injuries to key players,” he said. “Throw in the suspensions on top of that and towards the end the ineligibles. We had absolutely no depth and were working with a new group every week”

Necas said he was trying to field the best team he could each week but it was difficult with all that was happening.

The out going coach said the discipline starts at home and as a coach he tries to be a role model while emphasizing it’s important to be part of a team and the importance of being dedicated to that team once the commitment is made.

Commitment is not only on the field but in the classroom as well

“You’re teammates, coaches and school are relying on you to do the best you can,” he said. “We try to instill that in the players – some take it to heart and it sinks in. For others it never registers.”

Looking back on his head coaching career Necas says the highlight is the 2005 season where his team went to Cholla the last game of the season and beat the heavily favored Chargers on their home field on Mom and Dad’s night giving them enough power points to get into the post season playoffs.

“We thought that was going to be a stepping stone and we were going to make a constituent attempt to get back to the state playoffs,” he said. “That win over Cholla was definitely a signature win of my coaching tenure – probably the biggest win I can remember in my 15 years of coaching here at Douglas High School.”

As he prepares to walk away Necas says he still has a strong love for the game. He has been around football all his life and played in two Rose Bowls while playing for USC.

“I’m been fortunate enough to work with some great kids,” he said. “I hope I made a positive impact on their life, not only in high school but also as men.”

Necas says he has tremendous respect for his coaching staff as well who really stepped up.

“They did a great job for me in all aspects,” he said. “We didn’t have just a great working relationship we were also good friends. I’m going to miss the day to day camaraderie with them.”

Necas feels he still has a lot to offer as football coach and doesn’t rule out the fact he may return some day in a different capacity.

“In the right situation I would definitely consider coaching again,” he said. “I’d like to thank the administration for the opportunity they gave me and I’d like to thank my staff for the fantastic job they did for me.”

 

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    big pic wrote on Dec 28, 2008 5:11 PM:

    " lets look at the big picture. it does not matter who the coach would have been for the last six years. the out come would have been the same. as a former coach i have to say that not only the athlete has changed but the importance of athletics all together has changed. necas was set up to fail from the beginning. backing from the adminstration is very important to any successfull organization, and saddly not there in douglas. everyone repeatly discusses how the weightroom is important to a program. they are right. well what successfull program does not have a football or athletic class during the regular school day. there are many things to be fixed in douglas. "

    Mark Brunenkant wrote on Dec 11, 2008 5:52 PM:

    " Good luck John. It was a honor to have you on staff for three successful seasons. I know during that time, all of you (Ron, Abe, Vincente, Gabe, Bill, Don, et. al.) were instrumental into the development of young men. To this day, I still have some of my greatest personal and professional memories. God Bless to you and your family! Once a Bulldog..always a Bulldog. "

    Proud Bulldog wrote on Dec 11, 2008 3:13 PM:

    " First of all, good job to John on your efforts in coaching for all of these years. DHS Football is not an easy program to coach due to the few student/athletes who actually are committed to playing by today's standards, which means weightlifting, speed-agility training, staying away from booze and dope, etc. As long as laziness and an acceptance of not having any self discipline are abundant, success will be very hard to come by. The program is blessed to have the coaches that it has had for so long. It does not matter what plays you run, what schemes you come up with, as long as you have players that are not motivated by a love football or winning, you will get the same results. "

    Jess Hernandez from Calif. wrote on Dec 11, 2008 2:40 PM:

    " I remember as a kid in the late 50's early 60's going to the football games and Douglas was always a winner. The entire city was behind the team. I realize that times, players, coaches change but so do they everywhere. Necas's record was 2 loses for every win. That is not good enough. Everyone loves a winner and Douglas should be a winner. Being a good person and caring about the kids is not all there is to coaching. You have to motivate and build a winning attitude. Douglas is a small school and the large amount of talent isn't there. That should not stop the kids from hitting the weight room and working their tails off. Remember, the teams from the 50's and 60's as well as other winning teams lacked in some talent however the coaches were able to produce winners. Bottom line,Necas resigning is good news for Douglas football now go out and hire a quality coach. The results will amaze Douglas. "

    Shame wrote on Dec 8, 2008 2:52 PM:

    " It is sad how this town can kick a man when he is down, and start tying to insult other coaches in the program. Having been part of the great bulldog tradition I am proud to have played sports and gratuated from DHS. Coach Necas sacraficed family time to spend with our players, and for that we should be greatful, yet some of you want to crufify him. Coach always stressed the weightroom, weightroom, weightroom . Many of our players choose to stay away from the wieghtroom our program will not improve unless athletes start using the weightroom. "

    WOW wrote on Dec 7, 2008 1:42 PM:

    " Grijalva, Ellsworth, Rojas, etc.. Lets find someone new! stop the cycle! "

    Or do you want to get some BP agent who "knows" football to come in a fail again? "

    WOW wrote on Dec 7, 2008 1:41 PM:

    " " Grijalva, Ellsworth, Rojas, etc.. Lets find someone new! stop the cycle! "

    These three Men are always there for the kids. They care for the kids and always step up to not only lead them! I know Bulldog football, I have lived it for my whole life! Are the kids under sized from the great teams in the 80's to early 90's? YES, But their heart is still there.

    Stop the cycle? Funny comment... Who are you going to get?? Some junior high coach who thinks he knows how to run a program? Been there! "

    Jim wrote on Dec 5, 2008 9:16 AM:

    " DHS has not had a quality program since the days of Tony Rose.
    Until the kids commit themselves to the weightroom and until the HS can have their program implimented into the Jr High teams they will always be bad. If you want an example of a quality program study St.Johns HS and learn from them. "

    to concerned 2.. wrote on Dec 4, 2008 8:29 PM:

    " First of all, check your grammar.
    Second of all, the kids who got their awards deserved it.
    Third, I'm sure the coaches want the best for the kids and the awards are not a personal thing but for their performance on the field instead of a mom thinking her kid deserves an award because of her being involved in EVERYTHING! "

    Class of 07 wrote on Dec 4, 2008 7:26 PM:

    " I agree with "class of 06" because I was also a starter for John Necas (three year starter in fact) and his coaching was a non-factor to our teams success. Being a part of that 2005 team that went to state, it was Coach Keith, Coach Grijalva and Coach Ellsworth who were the real coaches of that team. "

    Bulldog for Life wrote on Dec 4, 2008 2:00 PM:

    " It is unimportant whether John actually played at USC, or not. Mentioning that he went to USC in every article comes more from Bruce Whetten than John. in all the years I've known him, he very rarely brought up his time in college.

    How many of you nay-sayers were even looked at by a college to play sports, much less went on to play there? Get off the people who actually leave Douglas, even if they come back.

    The jeolousy in Douglas never ends. "

    Bulldog for Life wrote on Dec 4, 2008 1:55 PM:

    " Thank you for the many years of coaching, John.


    For those of you with dreams of some big name coach coming in a saving the football program, keep dreaming. Who in their right mind would want to come to Douglas now a days and coach a bunch of undersized, heartless kids at an uncompetitive salary; with unsupportive parents and their misguided visions of how good their kids actually are?

    Thank you, John, Ron, Abe, Gilbert and the rest of the coaching staff. "

    Bulldog wrote on Dec 3, 2008 5:02 PM:

    " Its great to hear that there will be a change! the only thing that I dont like is that the school will contuine with its cycle. the cycle is that they will give the job to Grijalva, Ellsworth, Rojas, etc.. Lets find someone new! stop the cycle! "

    community member wrote on Dec 3, 2008 1:56 PM:

    " It is infortunate that a coache's career would end with such hurtful comments. Coaches in all sports take reponsibilities to lead and teach a sport that they love for the benefit of the youth. I know for a fact Mr. Necas was that type of coach. If indeed a boy was over looked for an award I am sure he will be recognized for his talents in the form of scholarships and media coverage. Did this happen? As parents, community, and coaches we all want our kids to succeed. "

    Class of 06 wrote on Dec 3, 2008 12:51 PM:

    " Necas was a non-factor as coach I know, being one of his former starters. All I could remember was how many of my former teamates would criticize him. I believe Necas departure is one of the best things that could happen to the Bulldogs. "

    Not your Nana wrote on Dec 2, 2008 3:08 PM:

    " Dear Tata, It is refreshing to know that your the meaning behind the phrase "Ignorance is bliss" "

    concerned 2 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:57 AM:

    " It' sad when all he can look at are the problems he had this season how about the the players who stepped, didn't get in trouble, had good grades, had to learned new positions, were at his summer speed camp, weighting all summer, sold his gold cards, and was there to be a leader 3 years and all he could say was "his name and only compare him to the ones with injuries.
    some seniors played for 3 three and no award give, awards given to juniors who have one more year to play. Good BYE "

    Tata wrote on Dec 2, 2008 9:03 AM:

    " To Editor: Why do you hide certain comments made against Necas? What are you afraid of?
    Does the truth hurt? This probably won't be printed, but hopefully you will read this, and be truthful. "

    Tata wrote on Dec 1, 2008 2:15 PM:

    " Best thing that could have happened to the Douglas Bulldogs. Maybe now, DHS can hire a coach with a higher caliber than Necas. Him playing (or did he) for USC did not help him coach. "

    1990 DHS Grad wrote on Dec 1, 2008 8:47 AM:

    " Good luck, John. Hopefully DHS can find someone else to lead the football squad with the pedigree and tools you brought (DHS grad, major college starter) to the job. The records you posted weren't great, but the Bulldog Pride you displayed made up for that. Douglas will almost always be an underdog in the grand scheme of S AZ football. But through coaches like you, Abe, Kleck, and Keith, we can get our undersized kids and underfunded program to be competitive. Thanks for your efforts. "

    Tanya Duarte wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:57 AM:

    " Many thanks to Coach Necas for doing his best to coach a difficult team for all these years. His points are valid that many players today may not be self-disciplined enough to be successful. It is not the coaches responsibility to begin the teaching of discipline, effort and self-pride for hard work. That begins at home as babies. Parents need to step up and teach their children that rewards come from hard work not hard wishes.
    Good luck Coach for all you future plans. "

    Concerned wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:35 AM:

    " Did he really resign? Necas mentions that discipine starts at home but it is also a big part of the sport. Necas did nothing to help the discipline of the team. In fact, he looked the other way. I hope whoever they hire is a motivator and a disciplinarian, which Necas did not do. Playing in 2 Rose Bowls does not make for a good coach. Adios. "

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