The official head coach for Crenshaw High’s football workforce stays Robert Garrett though he’s been barred from attending video games on Los Angeles Unified School District property since Aug. 21, when he was positioned on administrative depart.
His long-time assistant and Crenshaw grad, Terrence Whitehead, took over as interim coach the week earlier than the opening recreation. He and assistants educated by Garrett since they have been adolescents have the Cougars at 10-1 and enjoying for the City Section Open Division title towards top-seeded Carson at 6 p.m. Saturday at L.A. Southwest College.
“I think he’s doing an outstanding job from where he’s been put,” Garrett stated.
Garrett stated it’s no shock what Crenshaw has completed with 14 of 18 gamers getting back from a workforce final season that misplaced by a single level in the opening spherical of the Division I playoffs to No. 1-seeded Eagle Rock. Add standout linebacker De’Andre Kirkpatrick to that group together with others and you’ve got Crenshaw in search of its seventh City title.
“My thoughts are you win ballgames from January through July when you meet daily and go over fundamentals, skills and get bigger, stronger and faster. You win it in the weight room,” Garrett stated.
Garrett stated he has spoken to Whitehead weekly and seen video games that have been streamed. But he has no intention of attending Saturday’s recreation.
Crenshaw coach Robert Garrett has been on administrative depart since August.
(Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
“I’ll be sitting in front of a TV watching USC versus UCLA,” he stated.
Garrett praised Kirkpatrick, a switch from eight-man energy Animo Robinson who he met final spring and summer time.
“He’s by far a Division I player,” he stated of the 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior. “You can’t coach size. He has good attitude. Doesn’t cuss, doesn’t fuss and doesn’t hang out. It doesn’t come from me or anyone coaching him. All we can do is motivate him and encourage him to do better.”
To say Garrett is fed up with LAUSD is an understatement. There has been no celebration of the best achievement by a football coach in City Section historical past. Crenshaw’s 10 wins give him 300 profession victories since 1988, which places him in Hall of Fame territory.
“I’m going to coach somewhere, somehow,” he stated. “I was born to coach. I’m a helluva coach. Nobody gave me that and nobody can take it away.”
Garrett stated he has by no means been advised what’s being investigated the final 4 months.
“I’m going to coach again. I’m going to get out of the house real soon because I’m an American citizen,” he stated.
He continues to obtain full pay whereas staying house and ready to be cleared. Once LAUSD begins an investigation, it will probably final greater than a 12 months. Former Huntington Park basketball coach Joe Reed returned this 12 months after 14 months on administrative depart after a parental criticism.
“I haven’t been told anything,” Garrett stated. “All I’ve been told is we’re investigating. It doesn’t matter what happens because whatever they tell me what they are investigating, they will find no wrongdoing whatsoever.”
Garrett is writing a guide. He stated he was the primary from his Jefferson High graduating class of 1977 to earn a school diploma. His mom was one in every of 18 siblings and every one had six or extra children. He graduated from Nebraska’s Concordia University in 1981 with a concentrate on instructing and has a Lutheran instructing certificates. He could possibly be a pastor if he wished to.
“I’m not a coach, I’m an educator,” he stated. “I’m the first in my family to get a college degree. You don’t know what I’ve been through and what I’ve seen.”
He supplied phrases of knowledge for Thanksgiving: “Always do thy duty, which is best, leave unto the Lord the rest.”
You’ve heard the road, “Win one for the Gipper.” Now it’s, “Win one for The G Man.”