Apost on the Fountain Valley Baron football page proclaims, “New season, new coach, same drive!”
That new coach is Mitch Olson, who will lead the FVHS football team as it competes in the Foxtrot League. Olson brings more than 30 years of head coaching experience to FVHS, including one CIF championship, six CIF semifinal appearances, 12 CIF quarterfinal appearances, 18 CIF playoff appearances, and eight league championships, according to a press release from HBUHSD.
The Barons open the season against Ocean View High School on Aug. 21.
The Bell Game versus Edison High is set for Sept. 19 at Orange Coast College.
Players to watch this season include Sam Garza (running back/ middle linebacker), Aiden Wong (offensive and defensive line) and Munir Beshir (offensive and defensive line).
Coach Olson recently spoke with FV Living about his new role.
Q. What made you willing to take the job at FVHS?
A. The people I met, from the principal, coaches to the parents.
Also, the reputation of the quality of student-athletes, the reputation of the school and the quality of coaches that joined me and wanted to be part of it.
Q. Do you have a motto that you liked your teams to live by and show?
A. “All of the time…not some of the time.” The meaning is simply you don’t pick and choose when you are going to do things right.
Q. What are some of your goals in this first season as head coach?
A. Establish the culture of the program; build relationships with other organizations, faculty, and staff; develop a work ethic that will spill onto the field in the fall; and most important, build character in these young men.
Q. How good could FVHS football become?
A. Being successful on the field takes many things, but most important is to understand that there is no easy way. It takes a lot of hard work, and total buy-in from players, coaches, administration, etc. With that being said, getting to know these young men better every day, I think we will have success on and off the field.
Q. Who/what has helped influence your philosophy on how you coach?
A. I was lucky to have had great mentors in coaching and life: Craig Conrad, my high school basketball coach. Dick Tucker, football coach at OCC and his staff. Hugh Mendez the football coach at Whittier College, who became a second father to me. I was also blessed with outstanding parents. Very lucky!