Varsity football coach Kelly King won the Central Coast Section (CCS) Honor Coach of the Year award after coaching the team for over three decades, making it his second time winning the award, according to information provided by Athletics Director Joanna Butcher. According to the California Interscholastic Federation, King was recognized with the award for his involvement in community programs and his leadership under pandemic guidelines.
Although King appreciates winning the award, he currently wants to focus on other things, he said.
“Someday, I guess I’ll just sit down and look at all the things I’ve done, but it’s not today, and I’m more worried about what we’re going to do today,” King said.
After playing football in high school and college, King decided to return to coaching after one of his former coaches asked him to, King said.
King admits that his coaching program isn’t easy, but to him, hard work is the most crucial aspect of the team, and even in life in general, King said.
While King can be strict at times, he only does so to empower the team, varsity player Malachi Jackson said.
“It’s like anything in life—you want to get something in life, you’re going to have to put in for it,” King said.
“I believe he’s a great person and a great coach; he treats us with respect,” Jackson said. “If there comes a time when he is yelling at us, it is because he truly sees potential in us, and hates that we aren’t using it.”
Varsity player Demien J. Young improved as a player under King’s guidance, he said.
“He has a lot of passion for football; he takes it seriously,” Young said. “He always makes sure you know what you are doing and that you are doing it right.”
King brought two state championships to MHS just a few years ago, but a lot of the success is due to his players, King said.
“Well I didn’t throw a touchdown pass the whole year,” King said. “So it was a great effort by those young men that were there.”
While King does take pride in the successes of his players, he takes more pride in how their character develops and how they give back to the community, he said.
“Well, I’m pleased when my kids have some sort of impact or a little bit of impact on their community,” King said. “A lot of our guys go into police work, we’ve had firefighters, and even the mayor of Milpitas played for me,” King said.