‘Winners in life’: First-year football coach Marcus Alonzo brings new mentality at Lindsay

New Head Football Coach Marcus Alonzo works with his team on Monday, July 29, 2024 at Lindsay High School.

Marcus Alonzo knew he wanted to coach football when he was a teenager.

He played center and learned parts of the game from the Central Section’s active winningest high school head football coach — Darren Bennett at Tulare Union.

After playing a season of college football at Humboldt State, now Cal Poly Humboldt, he returned to Tulare County and got his first coaching job in 2018 as an assistant coach for then-Lindsay head coach Matt Mendonca.

Mendonca is now the head coach at College of the Sequoias.

Alonzo, a 2016 Tribe grad, spent five years with the Cardinals and most recently served as the Giants’ offensive line coach before being named the new head coach at Lindsay High School in January.

“I was always a student of the game,” Alonzo said. “I always enjoyed the X’s and O’s and being with the guys and kind of just learning and developing the offense and guiding them through that.”

New Head Football Coach Marcus Alonzo works with his team on Monday, July 29, 2024 at Lindsay High School.

More: Tulare County Football: Check out the top 7 Quarterbacks to watch in 2024, plus a few extra

Soaking up knowledge

Through Alonzo’s coaching and playing history, he was able to soak up football knowledge with those who shared their love for the game with him.

That started with Bennett.

While at Tulare Union, Alonzo was a four-year varsity player from 2012-15, paving open holes for one of Tulare County’s greatest running backs in Romello Harris.

What did he take away from Bennett?

“The biggest thing I learned from coach Bennett is to have high expectations for your kids,” Alonzo said. “Don’t settle and making sure you’re pushing them to their highest potential. Making sure you’re getting the best out of…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/winners-life-first-football-coach-091029902.html

Author : Visalia Times-Delta | Tulare Advance Register

Publish date : 2024-07-31 09:10:29

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Check Also

Why the mom of ASU star Cam Skattebo said ‘Much respect for this coach’ about BYU’s Kalani Sitake

Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (4) breaks away from BYU cornerback Kevin Doe on …