Search is over for Redondo football coach
Matt Ballard will leave his alma mater at Half Moon Bay in June to become the head football coach at Redondo Union High School.
After four months of having its football program in limbo, Redondo Union High School has begun a new era on the gridiron with the hiring of Matt Ballard as its new head football coach.
The decision to accept the position did not come easy for the 38-year-old Ballard, who admitted to a lot of soul searching and reflection before he gave an affirmative answer to the Redondo administration.
In June, Ballard will pull up stakes and re-locate more than 350 miles down the California coast leaving his hometown and alma mater at Half Moon Bay High School where he has been the head football coach for the last 10 years. He also taught Physical Education and served as the Athletic Director at the school while compiling a 57-48-1 record at the helm of the Cougar’s football program.
“The situation came rather unexpectedly,” Ballard said. “But after much consideration, I believe it will be a great challenge for me both on the field and in the classroom.”
Ballard will become a staff member at Redondo Union but it is not known at this time what subject he will teach. He felt his decision to accept the job was based on two things.
“The athletic facilities are exceptional, but it was really a combination of the tradition at the school and the administration I met,” Ballard said. “It’s a big deal to have an administration that supports athletics and has a high demand of its programs. Wins and losses are not a measure of success. That was common ground between me and the administration.”
Ballard said he will be taking a crash course on the history of Redondo football program, its rivals and the teams in the CIF Southern Section. He has taken a tour of the school and the city which reminds him of his beach-side hometown located 28 miles south of San Francisco.
“Redondo is my kind of community with families living in the city for a long time,” Ballard said. “It’s a coastal community with a lot of tradition similar to Half Moon Bay. I walked around the campus and was very impressed with the kids. I didn’t hear any F-bombs being used and the students were moving on to their classes.”
Though housing in the South Bay was an issue for the single Ballard while he contemplated his decision to accept the new post, he won’t be completely on his own. He said he has friends in Long Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, which includes Jeremy and (professional beach volleyball player) Angie Akers.
“It’s nice to know I’ll have a couch to sleep on if need be,” Ballard chuckled.
An All-League linebacker and fullback at Half Moon Bay, Ballard played four years as a defensive tackle for UC Davis. He has spent the last 14 in the coaching ranks including one year at Davis while he earned his teaching credential at Chapman University.
In 2005, Half Moon Bay captured the CIF Central Coast Section championship, earning Ballard Coach of the Year honors by the Peninsula Athletic League, The San Mateo County Times, the San Jose Mercury News and the San Francisco 49ers (The Charlie Wedemeyer Coach of the Year Award).
“After an extensive search for a new coach, we are very pleased to announce Matt Ballard as our next head football coach,” said Redondo Athletic Director Andy Saltsman. “Coach Ballard will bring many assets to the Sea Hawk football family. He is extremely grateful and excited about joining the Sea Hawks and has a solid reputation for his high degree of character, integrity, and class.”
Ballard replaces Gene Simon who resigned in December after a 16-year tenure as head coach of the Sea Hawks. The new head coach said he will retain some members from the previous staff but will have a new offensive coordinator and bring down one or two coaches from Half Moon Bay.
Ballard, who also served a defensive coordinator at Half Moon Bay, is excited to begin the challenge of leading the Sea Hawks and working with new players and coaches.
“The offensive coordinator will have his preferences but we’ll work together to utilize the talent of the players,” Ballard said. “I want to make sure the kids can be physical. We want to be a disciplined, structured team. We’d like to become a downhill running team.”
An introductory meeting with the players and Ballard provided little time for assessment.
“The players were attentive but I know they were skeptical,” Ballard said. “They didn’t know anything about me so we were feeling each other out. One thing I do know is that it’s been a long four months for the kids and they’re more than ready. They’re looking for direction and are ready to play football.”
Quarterback Harrison Faecher, who returns after an All-League season as a sophomore in 2011, reiterated Ballard’s thoughts.
“We (the players) are all excited to start working out with new coaches and a new offense.” Faecher said. “Coach Ballard seems to know what he’s talking about. Even if we run 70 percent of the time and we are successful, I’m fine with that. Whatever it takes to win games is the important thing.”