New Woodbridge coach Connor McBride led his team to the first day of fall practice Monday. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Connor McBride made a name for himself as a star running back for Woodbridge High School in 2017, and during his career helped the Warriors reach the CIF playoffs four consecutive times.
At Woodbridge, McBride established career school records in rushing (4,966 yards) and touchdowns (43) and twice was named All-city offensive MVP.
Now, he’s trying to make an impact as the fourth head varsity football coach at Woodbridge.
To see additional photos, click on the first picture:
Spirits were high at Woodbridge Monday as McBride and his assistants led the varsity team through the first day of fall practice without pads. It’s described by CIF officials as the “acclimation period” before teams who have zero week games can begin practice with full gear later in the week.
McBride has youth on his side, he turned 27 in June and is one of the youngest head coaches in the county, which can have benefits and challenges.
“Everyone I’ve talked to has said is, ‘you’re super young for a head coach.’ I totally understand that. I think there are a lot of pros to that. I’ve been very lucky to have coach (Rick) Gibson on staff and some other coaches who have like 60 years of head coach experience, with (John) Halagan from basketball who has taught me a lot of the administrative aspects, those are things that are new to me.
“But I think being young and having that new fresh energy, I’ve always felt I was a natural born leader, and being able to have that connection with the kids, I’m 10 years age difference with them so I feel like I’m really able to connect with them and understand the trends that they like and bring in that fresh new energy, so I think that’s really helped being at that young age.”
Ironically, Gibson who will serve as offensive coordinator with help from Halagan, who will coach the quarterbacks, was 27 when he became Woodbridge’s second head coach. Gibson went on to be the Warriors head coach for 32 years.
McBride, who will also teach full-time at Woodbridge, said he’s excited about the opportunity to return to his alma mater.
“It is my dream job,” said McBride, who was previously an assistant coach at University. “I love being a teacher too so being able to teach history here this year and sitting in my classroom and being here is very surreal and seeing some staff members who used to be my teachers. This is my long-term job, my dream job and I tell the kids all the time I care so much about it, it makes the long hours and hard work really easy because it’s something I care about so much with Woodbridge and the community and being successful on and off the field.
“We have so much talent in Woodbridge so I think the sky is the limit and I think there are certain ways to get there and that’s where I hope to get to.”
McBride said he has total faith in his coaching staff as he prepares the Warriors for the season opener on Friday, Aug. 22 vs. Calvary Chapel at Segerstrom.
“I was able to have a great blend of veteran leadership in coach Gibson, coach Halagan and Coach (Cliff) Nelson, who have all been here for 30 years plus,” McBride said. “They bought into the Woodbridge community and I have a couple other coaches, Coach Brendan Beresford, who has played at Woodbridge, Coach Justin Robeck who has played at Woodbridge and Coach (Chase) Bradley who is my strength and conditoning coach, so I have three people who played for Woodbridge and three people who have been working for Woodbridge for 30 years.
“So it’s a great blend of veteran age and a new, fresh energy.”
Beresford will be the defensive coordinator.
McBride will take over from the previous coach, Aaron Craver, who was dismissed after five seasons. The Warriors finished 4-7 overall and and advanced to the CIF playoffs after finishing 3-2 in the Omicron League last season.
“We’re really trying to build in a culture,” McBride said. “I want to establish a culture that I feel is the best for the program and as a new coach and a new coaching staff, it takes a while for these kids to learn, they’re teenagers, our summer for the four weeks, we started a whole new level of accountability, a new strength and conditioning program and it’s gone really, really well. So building that culture is something we’ve really placed a lot of focus on, it’s really high on my priority list.”
McBride is looking toward seniors to lead the way.
“I look at my offensive linemen who are a really strong group for me this year, I have two seniors Ben Jenkins-Amara, a senior tackle and Larry Lloyd, our starting center,” McBride said. “They are both seniors who are respected by the program that I look to.”
Lloyd said Monday he was pleased with how the first practice was going.
“The intensity is good, we had a good weight room and good energy in there and good energy on the field,” he said. “Drills are going smoothly.”
Lloyd said McBride has inspired the Warriors so far.
“He brings a lot to the table, he brings energy and intensity and he’s making this team better and we’re definitely getting better through each practice and each day,” Lloyd said.
As for personal goals, Lloyd hopes to record 10 sacks on the season, help his team score “a lot of touchdowns” and lead the team to the CIF playoffs again, and “make it past the first round.”
McBride is counting on two other players to lead the way.
“My wide receivers Jalen Webb and Elijah Morris are more of that skill set and who have been here and are well respected by the kids and really have a grasp of leadership,” McBride said.
The starting quarterback will be decided during summer practices, McBride said.
“We have a quarterback battle between two very young kids in Joey Coykendall (sophomore) and Waylon Stone (a freshman),” McBride said.
Offense and defense is equally important, but McBride said, “I’m always a team who wants to establish a run, and that opens up the pass and we will have a good running game as always.”
McBride said he looks forward to the Warriors schedule. City rivals Portola and University are among the six squads in the Omicron League.
“I’m super excited because we still get to schedule all those Irvine teams in the pre-season, Irvine, Northwood and Beckman, that’s the league I grew up with, and always excited about playing against Portola, such a good program with Peter Abe, someone who I look up to and also Uni, which is now our crosstown rival right down Culver and Pacifica and Katella and all those good programs,” he said.
As for winning and losing:
“Winning is really important,” he said. “Obviously, I’m a coach who really wants to win. I think focusing more on the culture and accountability and that teamwork and trusting in the process, winning is a result of those things. When you play all your cards and really work on those smaller aspects, winning is a result of those.”
McBride said he has long-term goals for the program.
“I really want to make the Woodbridge program proud and my kids to be great kids on and off the field,” he said.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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