EP#25-Rajah That!! Rajah Nation Reborn with Coach Doc

The Rajahs have waited three decades to feel this kind of buzz—and we’re ready to say it out loud: the turnaround starts now. We sit down with Coach Doc, who left a nine‑year run at Xavier Prep to lead Indio with a bold, simple plan: close the borders, rebuild the trenches, and make staying home the obvious choice for Indio families.

We dig into why Indio was the right fit and how Principal Monica Rodriguez and Shipley pitched a vision bigger than football: a surging city, a massive alumni base, and a campus built to compete. Doc lays out the on‑field identity—physical offensive line, fast defense, and detailed habits that show up in alignment, assignments, and special teams. He spotlights returning talent, from a maturing QB to real speed outside, and explains how the staff blends young former D1 athletes teaching on campus with veteran mentors who lead beyond the game.

Rivalries and structure matter, too. We talk Bell game history, the Mayor’s Cup pause, and why stepping back to calibrate before stepping into marquee matchups can pay off. The new tiered league system gets a thoughtful breakdown on how it supports organic growth, smarter scheduling, and healthier programs. Then we go deeper: reclassing for maturity and academics, what college recruiting looks like in the NIL era, and an honest take on transfers—why freedom and fit often serve kids better than restrictive rules, and why consistent standards across regions would level the playing field.

If you care about Indio football, this conversation is your blueprint: keep local talent, connect the youth pipeline, lead from the weight room, and celebrate a proud tradition while building something modern and tough. Subscribe, share with a fellow Rajah, and leave a review telling us the first rivalry you want back on the schedule.

Transcript

Welcoming Coach Doc To Indio

SPEAKER_00 0:24

Welcome back, everybody, to Desert Valley Blitz. Super excited today because we have the man of the hour in the building, a friend of the show, a local legend, and new, I love to say this, Raja Indio football coach. Here we go. Coach Doc. Thanks for joining us today, man. No problem, Raja. That's it, man. As a Raja, I gotta say, man, this is the first time we've had some, we had some buzz around the program. We're real excited for what you're gonna be bringing to the program.

SPEAKER_03 0:51

Yeah, I'm excited too, man. It's uh Raja Nation is vast, it's huge. And I didn't really know that. I mean, I had the idea of, you know, Indio's been around forever, um, but you don't really truly know how big that alumni base is until you're a part of their family. Um, I mean, everywhere I've been going, grocery store, mall, I mean, it's been like, hey, I'm class of 72, or you know, like it's been all over. So taking on a big tradition, big program. Uh we're very excited. Very excited to have you as a as an old alum.

SPEAKER_02 1:20

Yeah, I we've talked about this one since being in the podcast. Um we really wanted to see someone come in and turn Indial around. Um, I think you're the right guy for the job. How did we get here? Like, how did this all happen?

Why Leave Xavier And Why Indio

SPEAKER_03 1:33

Man, it it went fast. I mean, I think, you know, you know, nine great years at Xavier Prep. Um, obviously I was just here selling our brand not too long ago, right? And so I think anything is just like life, you know. Sometimes when you've been in a relationship with people for a long time, it could be a best friend, it could be a business partner, it could be uh your wife, hopefully not that. But you know, sometimes, you know, you just have different directions, and it doesn't mean that, you know, that what she did or what they did or your friend did was bad or or they're right or that I'm wrong. I just think that this was a good opportunity for uh myself. That's the only place that I've really known as a young adult, as an uh as a as an employee and as a dad and as a father. I've really grown up there. So it's a great opportunity for me to spread my wings a little bit. Uh it's a great opportunity for Xavier to to hear a new voice, um, to grow their program in a way that they need to moving forward. And uh after nine years, almost 10, that's a long time for a coach in our business. And you know, unless you're Armstrong or Blackburn, and even Blackburn tells me, Doc, I took me like three schools before I got to Palm Desert and, you know, did 25 years. So it's not always like that, you know. It takes a few times to find your fit. So I'm very appreciative of you know, everything that um I accomplished at Xavier and their opportunity. You know, Mark Campbell gave me an opportunity with basically no experience to come build that program. So we did a lot of great things there. Um, but you know, rear view mirror, and I'm looking in the windshield now and uh Rajah Nation.

SPEAKER_00 2:56

I'm excited. That's awesome, man. That's awesome. So, you know, you mentioned that you got, you know, you were ready to kind of step back from the head coaching position. And you're doc. So you're gonna have a couple offers immediately on the table, and I'm sure there was other positions that you could have took. Why Indio? What what was what was it about the the Rajah tradition that kind of drew you to Indio?

The Recruiters: Principal Rodriguez And Shipley

SPEAKER_03 3:15

Yeah, honestly, I really was, I was getting tired. It's a lot being a head coach. I don't think parents or people really understand like all that goes into it. I know it's just high school football, it's not the college or pro job. So maybe people don't think that it's how much it can affect your mental, your body, your family, your friends, everybody that's invested, especially the people I surround myself with because we're a family, we're loyal, we're a team, and we're all in. And uh, and I was looking at some financial stuff, met with the city manager, met with a few financial firms, like, you know, thinking about what else I can do in my life and what I'm skilled at. And uh honestly, you know, Shipley and Monica Rodriguez, they're just great recruiters in a sense. Um, you know, they reached out just to see, like, hey, would I be interested in the job? And my initial reaction was like, probably not. You know, I was like, probably not. Um, Blackburn even called me, like, hey, what'd you think? I was like, Coach, I'm done, man. And honestly, I tell this story because I told Monica, like Miss Rodriguez, I said, hey, no, I don't think I'm gonna be coaching next year. Like, I want to do something different, I want to take a little bit of time. And she just laughed it off, like, all right, well, like nobody believed me when I was telling people, like, man, I ain't coaching next year. Yeah, honestly, nobody believed me. And I thought that was funny because I'm like, man, why does nobody believe me? Like, I'm telling them I'm not coaching, you know? And Monica laughed it off and she basically said, We'll see about that. And uh, they just kept at it. And uh, we met uh a couple times and went through the interview process, obviously. And um, you know, they're just got a lot of spirit. Coach Shipley's done it, he's been around the block. Uh, Miss Rodriguez, the second Indio principal that's a female, the 11th or 13th, I think, in school history. So she's worked her, you know, butt off to get in the position she is, and she's a Raja. She went there, her kids go there. She wants to win. So you can feel that in her voice when she talks to you. And when somebody like that is that invested and wants to win and turn it around so much, I felt like, man, I gotta team up with that lady because if we can deliver a winner for her, like she deserves it. If any principal that you know cares about sports deserves a winner, it's her. So you know we're on board.

SPEAKER_00 5:05

Man, that's a great. So Indio recruited you and got you off the sideline. I thought I figured you'd be golfing with your son, you know, taking a year off, you know, just basking in what you've already accomplished. But, you know, the administration seemed to put a full court press on you and get you get you kind of thinking about the Indio job.

Alumni Pride And Community Momentum

SPEAKER_03 5:21

Yeah, and it was great, man. It was some other schools out here too. And I had the opportunity to even possibly, you know, you know, work, you know, working with Chris Johnson. That was that was a tough one because, you know, that's a great leader. I kept hearing that. I guess. He's tough to say no to. Yeah, he really is hard. And uh I appreciate it of him because he was like the first person to call me. He wasn't even necessarily like to offer me a job or anything. He just wanted to check on me as a man and just pray for me and just be there for me and be like, hey, I'm here for you. Come by. And I'll and that was what I needed at the time, you know, and so I really appreciate him for that. Um, and obviously, you know, there were some few other schools that were open out here that we took a look at, and it was really cool to just put my kids involved in the process and my wife involved with the process because the first time, uh, you know, looking at Xavier, they didn't have that opportunity to really go through it with me. I mean, she was supportive of if I got the job. We were so young though. So this time, you know, she was in it with me throughout all the interviews and all the meetings, and she needed some questions answered herself or um, you know, where I was gonna be going. So it was cool to see her in that role and it's kind of be like speaking up for me and like she has some things that she wanted to see um before we, you know, committed to anybody. So Indio did a great job, a lot of history, a lot of energy. So, you know, shout out Miss Rodriguez and um you know Coach Chipley because they did a great job.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

Yeah, shout out to the administration as an old Rajah. I wouldn't you told me that you'd be coaching a month ago at Indio. I would laughed and said that's not that would not happen. But the administration got it done. Shout out to them, they got their guy, and we're real excited. The Rajah family is very excited. I've talked to I have multiple alums that I went to school with, my family. We're all super excited to kind of bring some excitement back to that program that's been not where it should be the last couple years. Yeah, I agree. It's been a while. It's been a while. So onto the job at hand, coach. I have something to show you. Okay. I want to do it on air and get your reactions. Yeah. My dad pulled this out of storage, people, so don't I'm gonna hand that to Coach Doc over there. So that that is first of all, proof that I'm that's first proof that I did play uh high school football at a high varsity level to my sons who always told me I'm an unk and I'm old and I never played, so I'm on that picture. It's 1995. But more importantly, and I'm gonna have Danny shoot that up. That's the last time India won a DVL championship, and it says 1995 on there, and we're we're sitting on uh Palm Deserts filled after we beat them. So this is the task at hand, people. DVL championships. Um, it has it has been too long, coach. I'm an old man now.

SPEAKER_01 7:49

I was only seven then, so that was 30 years ago.

SPEAKER_00 7:53

So I'm an old man, but but that's your task at hand. What kind of uh what do you what do you think put thinking about putting in place that are gonna kind of get us to this point? I know your goal ultimately is to compete for DVL champions year in and year out. What are what are some things that you're kind of already kind of being at the school thinking we're gonna how are we gonna start this turnaround?

The 1995 Banner And The Mission

SPEAKER_03 8:10

Well, I just you know get to the process of it. Um, you know, what really drove drew me to Indio is um one, the history, right? You're talking about a organization and a school that has a big fan base of alumni, um, a lot of support and uh and and really a proud tradition, all the way to their band. Their band is very competitive, their band is something that uh the community should embrace, and we're excited about that. Um obviously they have a great history of football. You you talk about um, you know, Coach Uh George, you know, we got uh Ed White, Ed White, uh, you know, NFL, we got Oscar Lure. So we got three alumni. So that just shows you the type of people that have gone through those halls. Um uh not to mention, you know, let's be real about it. Um Indio is uh up-and-coming city who is revamping and reorganizing and cleaning up the city. The biggest city in the valley. Yeah, too. Biggest city, about 110,000 people or so, um, cleaning up the downtown. They got a lot of momentum, you know, good public city leaders um that are really invested in cleaning up Indio and making it a place that people want to move to. So, with that, you know that you can forecast out and see that, you know, there's gonna be families that want to move there, the festivals, uh, the downtown eateries, the activities that are going on. So there's a lot of positive energy, and that's what I wanted to be around, um, positive energy. I never really had a chance to do too much in the East Valley because I've always been on Cook Street. Um, but I'm excited about that because I've had a lot of friends out that way, and I hang out that uh in that part of town a lot. And um I think that when you're looking at a school like Indial that has 1,900 kids on campus, that's the fourth biggest school in the valley. So um going somewhere where, hey, let's just recruit our own campus. You know, there's gotta be 100 football players right now. I think our roster is at about 68 to 70. I'm not on campus yet, but those are our signups as of right now. And our goal is to make sure we get 100 plus players out there. That's what it's gonna take to be competitive in the league that we're trying to get to out here, right? So they have an opportunity to do that on campus. Um, and then not even that, uh, I think for a long time, probably since 1995, you know, coaches like I don't want to say no names, but let's just say coaches in the valley have had a great job, a great track record of getting players from Indio to go to their high school. Absolutely. There's a lot of kids that live in the world.

SPEAKER_00 10:20

We know, we all know that. I mean, Josh, Coach Josh knows that too.

SPEAKER_03 10:24

Even Palm Desert, I mean, even Coachella right now, Shadow Hills, right? There's a lot of our players, right? We are Indio. There's a lot of our kids that are going to different schools that um they don't they don't need to. Yeah. Um, and so my first order of business is just to make sure that Indio families feel very comfortable academically, athletically. You know, I'm gonna be on campus teaching, so I'm gonna be there for their kids, and we want to make sure that they feel like they don't have to go anywhere because teams have been winning on the backs of Indio players. So it's time for them to come back home and put that red, white, and blue on. So when you mix in the numbers that we have at the school, when you mix in how big the city is, when you mix in the proud tradition and alumni, you mix in all the kids that are everywhere else. If we can do what we know we can do, there's no guarantee. So we're not gonna say we're guaranteeing it. But our coaching staff and the people that I have aligned myself with, um, I feel that if we can execute what we're thinking um and make some partnerships with the youth-level football teams like we are doing, um, we feel very good about Indio football players feeling comfortable while staying home.

SPEAKER_00 11:21

Just close the borders. That's all I tell you. Like uh when USC used to recruit California, and then when they were good, they just said we just close the borders.

SPEAKER_03 11:28

No, and it's important to me. Like, I don't want an Indio mom or dad to feel like they're somewhere else for them. Um, you know, academics, hey, if you're a smart kid, there are AP and honor classes at every high school in this valley. So if you're in alignment with academics and you know you want to go to school and take care of business in the classroom, you can get that done. Sure, is there other schools maybe with a higher graduation rate or some things that may be a selling point for them? That is true. But if you're serious, you can get that done wherever you want. Indio is one of the newest high schools, a beautiful weight room, beautiful uh drama department. Uh, I mean, the facilities are top-notch. If you haven't seen it recently, it's they're really nice.

Closing The Borders And Keeping Talent Home

SPEAKER_00 12:04

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SPEAKER_03 12:33

New stadium, they have it approved. So the problem with that is a lot of OG Indio. Yeah, we want the concrete. They like yeah, they like that stadium a lot. Yeah, we just gotta figure out a way to kind of keep that vintage build, but you know, especially there's some nice stadiums in our valley that you just want to be on, we want to catch up, we want to be right there with everyone, so there's no excuses.

SPEAKER_00 12:52

And the first the first powerhouse in the whole valley. I mean, that's what people don't really realize. People that maybe just don't know their history. India was the first football powerhouse in the in the from the from the 70s to all the way to the mid-90s when I played. We were we were the we were the football team. A lot of great players. First pro player Ed White came out of the valley. He's from Indio Stadium's named after him. George Thomas, a great NFL player, still involved in the track and track and field at Indio. A lot of history there. You mentioned Oscar Lua. I mean, there's you could go on and on. So it's just all about tapping into that history.

SPEAKER_03 13:25

Yeah, it's gonna be fun to see some of those guys on the sideline, and it's a little pressure because I'm like, man, we got to deliver some wins, man. We got to get it going. But it's you know, I'm all about process. So we're gonna put the stuff in place. Uh we're gonna align, yeah, we're gonna align with the right people, but we're cautiously optimistic because you guys know, man, um like we're not here just to talk about a longtime rebuild. We want to win right away. Yeah, and uh we think that we we we can. We can.

SPEAKER_02 13:49

You got your staff coming coming with you, bringing some guys with you, or uh yeah, uh, you know, I'm gonna let those guys have a little bit more time.

SPEAKER_03 13:55

Um they have the right to uh explore other options if they feel like they need to. Um but we are getting close to spring ball here soon. And um we're gonna look very familiar on the sideline. So that's good. I'm excited about who we're bringing over.

SPEAKER_02 14:10

So there's no spots left. I guess they're a coach out there.

SPEAKER_03 14:13

Honestly, there's honestly right now. I'm at 10, 10, 11. I mean, but there's volunteer spots. I mean, we could be creative with it, the more the merrier that want to be involved. But uh public school, you only get nine stipends, which is hard when you have a hundred players. Like, how do you do that? Yeah, you know, I'm like, that's crazy. Hard to manage. So just getting with our alumni, getting with our booster club, and seeing if there's ways that we can be creative in that sense, because you want to surround yourself with football people. But I do like the leaders. Um, well, two coaches that we could talk about right now, Juan Lua and Jake Shipley, they're gonna be on campus teachers. They're both young and vibrant. Okay. Kind of remind me of Pope and Carl's when I first got on. You know, they're young.

SPEAKER_00 14:47

Just from college football, right?

SPEAKER_03 14:49

University of Oregon, you know, UMass. I mean, these guys that are four-year letterman's in D1 football, they're student athletes. They're they love the weight room, they love the valley, they love football. So I'm excited to be around those guys. And then with a couple of the old heads, you know, they'll probably say something to me about that. Um bring some of those guys along with us too. And it's gonna be a nice uh balance of youth enthusiasm, um, veteran experience and knowledge, and and more importantly, great leadership and men um that these kids can look up to. And if they need questions or if they need life advice, I mean, I know the staff that I have, they will be there for those guys and steer them in the right direction.

SPEAKER_00 15:23

That's awesome. I may this may be above your pay grade, but I've heard some rumors that uh the mayor's cup may be taking a hiatus in the next couple years. Do you have any info on that for the community out there?

SPEAKER_03 15:35

Yeah, I did. I know my schedule next year, they're not on it. Um that's obviously not something that I inherited. Like, yeah, you have no, yeah, you have no idea. I would love to play Shadow Hills. Um, I think that's an important game. Um, but I think that uh, yeah, I mean, we'll play whoever. You guys know me. I don't really care. So I we'll play whoever. I'm not worried about Shadow Hills. They got a great program too. They got to hire a new coach and all that. Um, but at the end of the day, we're just focused on ourselves and just putting together the processes of what how we want our football team to look and play. And so if when we do that and when we're ready to uh implement that, and um, I'm sure they'll be on the schedule. That's a shipy question, but I'm sure they'll be on there here soon.

SPEAKER_00 16:13

Above your pay grade, but yeah, I think the community would like to know. I've heard some rumblings about that.

SPEAKER_03 16:16

Yeah, it's not no it's not happening next year.

Facilities, Stadium Plans, And Tradition

SPEAKER_00 16:18

Yeah, we'll see how it's really because of the realignment of the leagues, right? Kind of threw everybody's preseason schedule into chaos, correct?

SPEAKER_03 16:25

And I think, you know, too, uh Shadow Hills, they're they're like a they're a team that's kind of like they're almost right there, you know. Like we'll see, they've always been almost right there. And Indio's kind of been so I don't know if that has done so much like positive, like doesn't benefit anybody doesn't really benefit the us right now, like, but it does, it does because like we want to put a fence around Indio, and you know, we're not backing down for anybody, especially in the valley. So at the end of the day, we do want that game, just like we want the CV game, right? But I have a lot of respect for those coaches and programs, so we got to get our stuff together, you know, before we're worried about those big games for sure. But we're gonna try to win them.

SPEAKER_00 17:00

And ultimately, right, if Indio moves up in those bracketings, right? Yeah, like there's a chance Shadow and Indio are in the same bracket, they play every day.

SPEAKER_03 17:07

But I will say this during my tenure there, that will be a game that is an annual game. It's just right now, for whatever reason, we'll take a little bit of a break. Um, and actually, I'm not too mad about it because get ourselves together, sharpen our armor and our irons up a little bit, and when the time is ready to meet on the field, we'll be ready. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 17:23

Love that, love that because yeah, it's still still something that us Indio alum aspire to win one day. So yeah, the American kids we want that cup at one point, you know.

SPEAKER_03 17:31

That's a lot of them. That's a lot of them.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

But speaking of rivalries too, I mean, what do you so you're a Palm Desert guy, Xavier guy. Now you're coming to the East Valley, and you know, you know about that Bell game. You've heard about that Bell game. What's your kind of exposure to that game? That's that's a big that's a big time deal to us alumni, too. Is that is that Bell game?

SPEAKER_03 17:48

I I mean, selfishly, I don't, I would say, I mean, the PD LQ flag game, that that's a crazy game. Like, I don't that is a really crazy game. But those are like newer schools, right? So when you talk about like history, the bell game is like 70 years rival. 70 years old, 75 years old. Even to the bands, like Coachella's band is really good. Indio's band is really good. So they even have a little rivalry. I mean, that game is huge, and I know how hard it is to win at Coachella. I've played them and coached against them many a times. Um, I'm excited to be in that game. That's just like the Palm Desert game. We get up for that game every year at Xavier. Um, I love rival games. That brings out the best in me. I'm a competitive dude, and it feels kind of like having PD as like, you know, like that was the game we had to, you know, you can win it, you can lose them all. But if you if you beat PD, it's a good season for some, right? I feel like that's the same thing with CV. They've been so successful, they've been so dominant in the league on the east side. So we got to work cut out. Coach Johnson is a hell of a coach. Um, they have a great program and they've been doing it a while. They have an identity. So we have a ways to go before we get to that. Um, but I I'm not gonna hold any of those Indio fans out there, like, they know you get me on your side, like we're trying to win every time. So there's no excuses, but we got some work to do.

SPEAKER_00 18:57

That's what we want. We just want somebody that's gonna go in there and battle that for you know, they're not even this you throw this this record out that game, that's just pure just heart and soul. Yeah, it's gonna be tough. I can't wait.

SPEAKER_03 19:07

On the road next year or two, I'm like, man.

Staff Philosophy And Sideline Leadership

SPEAKER_00 19:10

Yeah, it's it's something to be. And I think you come into the program juices it up a little bit more. Absolutely. Because now everybody knows who our coaches knows uh Indio might be trending in a different direction. So we're excited, man. I'm excited as a alum. I really want to see Indio be relevant again. I think this is the first step. Yeah, absolutely. You bringing in your staff and kind of making it making us relevant. That's all we can ask for at this point. Appreciate that. Speaking of that, Rome wasn't built in in one day, though. So, you know, Indio last year was one in nine. Yeah. So that you know, there's only really one way to go is is up. So what do you what do you I mean, I don't want to put expectations on your first year, but what do you what do we can we expect in terms of when we're gonna go out and watch Indio? What can as me as a Raja, I want to know when I go see the 26th edition, I want to see what we're gonna look like out there. Like, are we gonna we're I'm not saying from wins and losses, they already got the best uniforms, so they're gonna look fresh. Because sometimes when I went out there, like just to be honest, we didn't really look competitive. Right. So that's what I'm kind of speaking towards is you know what you you're bringing in terms of just what the kids, the kids you're gonna coach, even if they might not be the top talent in the valley, what are what are we expecting from out of your kids? Well, we you know tired of payroll headaches? iPay Solutions is your local payroll and HR partner right here in the Coachella Valley. From direct deposits to compliance, we handle the details so you can focus on growing your business. iPay Solutions, local, reliable, and built for your success.

SPEAKER_02 20:36

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Rivalries: Mayor’s Cup, Bell Game, CV

SPEAKER_03 20:53

Well, with all due respect to the, you know, last year's team. Um, we in a group chat we joke around, like, you know, I'm the coach, so I'm like the voice of reason in there. I'm like, hey, all we gotta do is win two games and it's it's you know, it's improvement. That's true, though. But that is true. That is true. But it's true. Like every coach in our group chat is like, bro, they didn't bring you and you didn't bring us over here to win two games. You know that is just not in our DNA. So you can say that, Coach Doc, but you know you're just doing that political crap, and that's not what you really believe. Right. But also, that is true, but it's not about X's and O's, it's about Jimmy's and Joes. But there is some talent. We have we're gonna have a physical offensive line. I'm gonna tell you that right now. I've already watched every game that they played last year. There's a lot of returning linemen, and so we are gonna be physical okay, and we do have speed. Uh Duranzi. Yes, he is like he's one of the fastest guys in the valley. I mean, if you play him man to man with no help, you're gonna be in trouble. Right? Our sophomore quarterback, Aiden, he's gonna be a junior next year. He throws the ball nice and he got some experience last year. Okay. Um, there's some other guys there too, Trimp, and uh that's why I call him. Um, and he is a tough running back. Um, and he's Learning the position. So there's some things there that we can work with already. And so I think what you're going to see just from a standpoint of coaching, just alignment, assignment technique, they're going to be sound. Like our coaching staff is very diligent, very detailed in our approach to how we practice and how we do walkthroughs and how we study film, how we enter our playbooks. Like we're very detailed. And so if we bring that and they buy into that, and it may take some time for them to trust us, but the more they buy into that, you're just going to see a team that is coached well. Right? They're going to line up correctly. They're going to take the right angles. They're going to run the coverage that we tell them. They're going to take the steps in the run game that we ask them to do. So they're just going to be a cleaner product. Now, can does that translate translate into more wins? We'll find out. But I know they will be a disciplined and detailed team. And then defensively, we're going to fly around, we're going to hit it. Guarantee you. Because I know East Guy, I know East Valley kids. I know the type of kids that I'm walking into. They're going to run through some walls once they know we love them and we do love them. So, you know, we're going to be looking a little different on offense. So I don't want to say too much. It's going to be, it's going to be what that is, but defensively, it's going to, we're not changing much that we do defensively. I think the Valley knows what we're about on that side of the ball. And we're excited to see what our special teams is going to look like in the kicking game. And we have some seniors next year that have gone through a lot. We have a lot of juniors and seniors that have gone through a lot. So they're going to be motivated to win. Yeah. They're going to be excited to go out there with some optimism. So, and I think that's, I think that we have an opportunity, like I said, cautiously optimistic to turn this around next year and be relevant. And I think that we just really want to focus on those eighth grade parents and those seventh and sixth graders to show them that, like, hey, this is a brand of football that's going to be exciting for you to play. And just envision yourself being an India Raja, envision yourself, you know, helping us win and get this back to the glory that they deserve. And a lot of the things that I've heard from the community is like, you know, kids have wanted to play for me in the past, you know, being humble about that, but it's always come with a price tag, right? And I understand that. And that price tag for Xavier College Prep is worth it, especially if you can afford it, because that's a great school and they offer a lot of different things that even a public school cannot, right? And I understand that. So with that price comes some things that are exclusive, and they deserve to have that right for that. But also, if there's f kids out there that can't afford playing or paying for school like that, and they want to come play for myself and the coaching staff that we have, it's free now. You have to be, especially if you're in Indio, right? So we just, I mean, you're gonna see me at the games, you're gonna see me in the community because I just like I mean, my passion right now, besides golf and being a dad and all that, is like making sure kids don't leave Indio. So if we do that, I think we'll be successful. Awesome.

SPEAKER_00 24:36

I'm happy to hear, man. Happy to hear, I'm excited.

SPEAKER_02 24:39

You start winning a little bit, they they they start coming. Yeah, it fixes a lot.

SPEAKER_03 24:42

So yeah, and like I said, it starts with the guys up front, and there's linemen on campus there, you know. So, and I really like our line. Like, I'm not just saying that I've met with them a couple times already. I'm like, hey, you're gonna be like so shocked because I treat linemen like quarterbacks. Like you are the heart of the team, yeah, you're the stars. Yep, you can have the best quarterback, flashiest receivers in the world. But if we can't block it up or run the ball when we need to, yeah, or you can't stand up to Laquinta running power 12 times in a game, you don't have a shot to win out here.

SPEAKER_00 25:09

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 25:10

I can't wait.

SPEAKER_00 25:11

Oh hey, we're excited, man. You can tell even though he's a black hockey, yeah. He respects Indio because we gave to him back in the day.

SPEAKER_03 25:18

We got to get somewhere. It's my next one. I'm just excited for that first win, man, just uh just to get that feeling. And it's close. Like even Coach Zero, he did a good job. Oh, he did. He did a good job there. He got the great playoffs, and he had I seen the momentum he was building there. They were starting to get away. Yeah, so it is possible. He he proved that is it's possible once people buy in. So we need that same support.

Expectations And On‑Field Identity

SPEAKER_00 25:36

Yeah, it's all about the buy-in, all about getting the kids, get the kids to follow you, and the sky's the limit. Yes, sir. Um, a couple questions on the coach's corner that we'll kind of take a left here. What are you thinking about the new league? The new league's coming this year. Yeah, they're they're they're they're tearing it up to basically the DEL is in the top tier. You know, we all knew that was gonna happen. DVL is a second tier. Indio now is down in the bottom tier, right? So, what is your schedule look like for league? And what are you anticipating? And how do you kind of how do you how are you feeling about this new league?

SPEAKER_03 26:06

So we have what 29 Palms, Cass City, and Desert Mirage. I like the new league. I think that it is um because there's been some flights in the past where like at a year where I knew we were gonna have a rebuild year, like where I was like, ah, you know, next year might be a little rough. Like we still have some talent, but it might be a little rough in comparison to the Dell, right? Yeah. Where I was looking like, man, but if we were in the DVL, no disrespect, I'm like, we probably are making the playoffs or pushing Yucca and CV for the championship for sure every year. Just because our trenches would match up a little better against some of those schools. Coachella has a great line for sure. But um, so I'm like in that sense, it'd be like that'd have been nice. And if maybe like if we had a year like my first year where we went two and eight, it would have been nice to, as a new coach, start off at maybe the bottom league to organically grow your program. So you're ready to match the talent that you're gonna see as you move up. And I think if a team is really good and all their players graduated, then the next year they're not so not so good and they need to take a step back to reload before those guys become upperclassmen. I like the model. Um, I would like to have seen DCA in it too. So it was just like everybody's in there or Desert Chapel. Yeah, that'd be kind of. But one day, I feel like one day they'll they'll they'll come. I know they have the reasons for why. Um, but I would have liked to have seen them in there because I do respect them and I think that they're right around the corner. Yeah, they're right around the corner. So it's always gonna be like, oh, well, these teams are good. Look at DCA, wish we can play them. Um, that type, and maybe we will play them eventually. But um, you know, I like it, honestly.

SPEAKER_00 27:26

Does it affect scheduling? I mean, because now you're like the you're on the lower tier of the league down here, and you don't really want to schedule too high up, correct? So is it gonna be harder to schedule those pregame? Is it still two years?

SPEAKER_03 27:39

They do two years ahead. No, I think they're just gonna take it at every winner at the end of the season. Yeah, they're gonna move it every year, is what I heard. That's crazy. Okay, that's crazy. And that'll help for a lot of the other sports besides football, like the country club sports and the water sports, it'll make it more parody there. Uh, you'll start seeing some different winners. Like look at DHS and basketball and like different things like that. Um, scheduling-wise, I don't think it's gonna be too much harder. I mean, for if you're in the bottom portion of the league, it will make it a little harder because that's only three-game schedule for the most part. So, or four.

SPEAKER_00 28:09

And you don't want to go too high up to get a local game, right? So you're gonna have to either go.

SPEAKER_03 28:13

So you gotta schedule like seven out of out of conference games or something like that. So, yeah, that would probably be tough for the ADs. But, you know, you know, for us, if we had, you know, Shadow Hills back on there, that's pretty much four or five local games already, which is typical. So um, I think it'll be fine.

SPEAKER_00 28:28

It'll be okay.

SPEAKER_03 28:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:29

What is your kind of philosophy when you do get to kind of sit down and look at that schedule? Like what there's coaches in here have had philosophies of like, let's play, you know, one team that we don't think we can beat, maybe two that we think should be wins, and then one that's gonna be like our test, you know. Some coaches are like the whole like they just yeah, the hardest schedule, get the best, get the best film for our players. What's your what do you what do you what's your philosophy on that scheduling?

Building The Trenches And Culture

SPEAKER_03 28:51

So I'm lucky right now, especially because you know, Coach Ship has been doing this for so long. Yeah and he and he and he's coached at Indio, so he knows the talent that we have. And I and I trust him to um to schedule us appropriately. Yeah, when when you know, so if he feels like we have a good team, I don't really care. Like, you know, if we have 120 guys on a roster, we don't yet, but when we do, and if we're getting the best kids in Indio to stay home and play, I like playing whoever. Like, you know, it doesn't really matter. I mean, yeah, Trinity League, probably not. Yeah, but like, you know, anybody from D6 and down, yeah, I think is is reasonable for an Indio team that keeps their kids. Right. Um, so that's the first important thing. If we keep our kids, we'll play anybody, like especially if it's a one game and we want to play Aquinas one time. Like, I'm cool with that. One time.

SPEAKER_02 29:36

Like uh because there's some things you learn at playing that level of football. And then you want to play some.

SPEAKER_03 29:41

Yeah, we don't want to just get cupcake wins all the time and then get to the league and can't win or get to the playoffs. And I mean, there's a fine line in that. Um, we've had really hard schedules at Xavier, so I'm probably the wrong guy to ask about that because we schedule tough. It's maybe sometimes too tough, but we're just a competitive staff, and um, that's what we wanted to do, and we had the players there that wanted to come there to do that, so we continued that. Uh, but I think you got to keep guys healthy um and and and smart, be smart about it. So I'm just happy, like I said, I just want to coach ball. And Coach Shibb has been doing this AD and football coaching thing a long time. So hey, that's my boss. I I trust him to go schedule us, whoever we need above your pay grade.

SPEAKER_00 30:19

Yeah, sorry. Um, so what is we we always like to talk about a couple topics that keep coming up here on this show? Yeah. Um, holdbacks. A lot of kids are taking that eighth grade year and basically sitting out and then coming into coming into school uh as a like a 15-year-old freshman. Yeah. Um, what and you've been to the highest level. So you play at the highest level, you know what recruiters are looking for. What what's your opinion, philosophy on that? Um, in terms of do you think do you think it's a benefit? Do you think is it just a parent's decision? What what do you think?

New League Tiers And Scheduling Strategy

SPEAKER_03 30:50

Yeah, there's a few different answers on that. I think if you're young and you're capable, that's always the best. Because when you're young and you're capable, then you're always gonna have potential, right? You have potential to add weight to your body, you have potential to to grow into who you're gonna become. Um, but also like in a game like football, um, if you're young, if you're too young and you're not physically developed, that's gonna be a problem. That's gonna be really tough. You know, I graduated high school at 17 years old. I didn't turn 18 until like the week we played Oregon, my freshman year in college. So I had to. You were a 17-year-old, 17 years old, 165 pounds. Yeah, you know, like I needed that red shirt year. Right. Or I used to ask my mom if I can be held back and she wouldn't let me because academically she said I was strong enough. Athletically, I was dominating, so she didn't feel the need. But I in my mind, though, I I knew like, hey, it's not just about out here, like I'm looking at Taylor Mays and the magazines or like guys that I'm comparing myself against the nation, and I'm like, I'm not quite physically there. Even Pete Carroll, I had to talk a lot of crap to him over the years because he didn't recruit me to LC because he didn't think I was physically ready to go play right away. They weren't looking for projects, they're looking for guys right now. Yeah, and so every time I played against Pete Carroll, I'll let him hear it too. Cause like you oh, you didn't want me, so like I played better when I played against him. But um, I think even for like my own son and for kids, I teach seniors, and sometimes like a um a senior boy, they could use another year to just get mature, you know, before they leave the house and go off to college or go get a trade or whatever they're gonna do. Um, so even for my son, you know, both of my kids will probably reclass, if you want to call it that. It's not really for sports. It's really so one, I'm selfish, I want to keep my sons home one extra year. Two, I just want to feel them to be a little bit more mature when they leave my house and go off into the world. And academically, it's made them a lot stronger, um, especially if you do it earlier. So, like my wife was like, hey, if you want to do that eighth grade stuff, like I ain't the one for that. If you're gonna do it, you're gonna do it in first grade, or we're not doing it at all. So if I in our family, we do it in first grade. Okay. So, and we really did it because that's a great foundation for learning right there. And like we've seen from his first grade year to when he did it again, like his his basis of like reading, uh, his language, his his mathematics, his understanding is just it was like over, it was just drastic, right? And so ever since we do that, I mean he's gotten straight A's every single year. And so my youngest son is a first grader right now, will probably do it again. My kids, they go to Sacred Heart, where a lot of teachers have done that with their boys too, so it's not like frowned upon. So I think every family's different. Um, you know, we're if you're just doing it for athletics, I think that's where it becomes taboo. And people are like, oh, you guys are just doing it for sports. Like if it means more than sports, like if you're doing it for maturity, for education, and then yeah, mix in the sports in there too, I think is a good decision, but to each their own.

SPEAKER_00 33:31

Yeah, and boys do mature slower than girls, you know, especially at the younger ages, they're always like a year behind. Yeah, I think just because the eighth grade thing, it gets a little tricky.

SPEAKER_03 33:39

People think it's like, oh, you're just doing it for sports. And hey, if they are doing it for sports, that's on them. Because, like, if you're a family that can't pay for college, like out of your own pocket, like guaranteed, why not take the opportunity to take another year to develop to give yourself a little bit better chance to get a scholarship? Like, that's just being smart, honestly.

SPEAKER_00 33:57

And there'll be maybe some junior college rules coming down that may affect that as well. Yeah, we've kind of learned that.

SPEAKER_03 34:02

Especially now where the NIL, they're not taking a chance on the six, two hundred and sixty-pounder.

SPEAKER_00 34:07

Like, maybe, right, maybe, right?

SPEAKER_03 34:08

But they could like hire, they can get James Dockery from Palm Deser High School, or they can take John Smith from uh, you know, UNLV, backup safety that's yeah, two 200 pounds, been in college for three years. Like, so now I tell my kids, like, if you're not living in that weight room, if you're not really striving to get your body to your peak that you can be at 18 by the time you graduate high school, like you don't really have a shot. You gotta be super special to be undersized, underdeveloped, and still take a roster spot in today's day and age. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:38

So it's good, all good, all good advice. I think there's no one size fits all, right?

SPEAKER_03 34:42

Yeah, everybody's different. Makes sense. But then you get done with, I was done. I was done with college 21. That was nice. So, you know, you're in the league, right? So, yeah, so it felt nice to be younger, you heal faster, things like that. So it was good.

SPEAKER_00 34:53

Yeah, you were a kid in the league, huh? You were barely able to drink and you were already getting drafted. It was it was it was I was young. That's crazy, man. That's awesome. Um one last question about so I I a lot of old school coaches that I grew up with, at least, I feel could not coach in this generation. And the one of the main reasons is player movement. Um kids have a lot more freedom than even when you went to school. I think it took if we transferred, we had to sit out a whole year. Yeah, so there's a freedom of movement, a freedom of like, you know, the players have a little bit more power, parents have a little bit more power. What's your take? Is that a good thing for our game? Is it a bad thing? What's your take from a head coaching perspective on that?

Player Development And Holdbacks

SPEAKER_03 35:29

Well, I like playing with my boys. Like, so you know, I went to Palm Desert Charter, I lived in Palm Desert, I want to beat La Quinta, right? That's that's what I want to do with my friends and all my friends I know from La Quinta. We want to beat you and tell you about it when we see you. So that was kind of like our way we grew up, right? But you think about it now with hey, as a coach, I was just at Xavier, now I'm at India. Or as a principal, you're over here, now you're over there. Or um the AD, you had this job, now you're over there, right? Or look at college players and coaches and they get to leave and do whatever they want. So personally, I don't really think there should be transfer rules. Always think about it like this. If you're running a good program, the kids that want to be there, they're gonna be there. If they have pride for their city, their school, or the coaching staff or whatever they're there for, they're gonna be there. If they want to leave, I'd rather them just have that free exit ticket to leave because if they can't leave and they're still in your program, yeah, that just becomes a cancer, resentment. And if there's truly a better fit for somebody else, like who are we to say? Like, I've already done what I I'm gonna do as a football player. If you really feel like you going to play defensive end for this school gives you the best chance that you think to be D1, I can't really knock them. Yeah, I can't really knock them. I like I hopefully I can foster and cultivate a situation in which those kids want to be with me and they don't feel the need to have to look elsewhere. But if they do, I don't think we should take away a year of a kid's high school career because he wants to go play for somebody else. Like most of these kids, 97, 98, 99% of them are not going to the NFL. Yeah, 95% of them are not going to college. So this is their NFL in their college. So let them boys move around a little bit. Like I'm not too mad at it. But I've lost some big time linemen. Elijah Vicona, Jack Sean Sean getting poached from the Trinity League. So I've been on the other side of that where our teams would have been way better with six, seven left tackles that are going D1. He was pretty big, you know what I mean? So, like, yeah, but also could I get mad at Jack or Elijah for wanting to go play in a Trinity League against five-star DNs? I can't be mad. I just gotta give you a high five.

unknown 37:30

Right.

SPEAKER_00 37:31

Yeah. I mean, to each his own, but I think your philosophy is what's gonna have to take now. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:35

Because you have to you have to almost coach it like a college or a professional coach in terms of kids are gonna come and go and you know, and just some clarity on it, because it seems like guys in the Trinity League or like Orange County, LA, it seems like they get to move around way more without penalty or however they're doing it. Where out here, I mean, CIF, I mean, they're dang. On you like out here, it's like you don't get any grace. Like, so it's like, well, it looks like well, why can't they do that? Why are Trinity League players on Twitter talking about thank you for um my time here? But um hitting the portal basically and going down the street. Yeah, oh you don't have a sit-out period? You you get to play right away? Like that's crazy because out here we we don't really get to do that. Yeah, so just how you have just make it black or white and then let's go.

SPEAKER_00 38:15

Yeah, just hold everybody accountable to the same rules, and there'll be no this there'll be no gray area. I agree. So yeah, so be on the lookout, people. Doc's bringing it back. It'll be up and running by probably by this time next year, right? You guys will be full. Yeah, some new colors as always. They do the the drip game the best, I think. So be on the lookout, people. So, Coach Doc, thanks for coming in, man. Appreciate it. Thank you this old Raja, man, is super happy. This black hawk right here. He even has to admit that was a good hire. Yeah, no, it's gonna be tough.

SPEAKER_03 38:43

It's gonna be tough. Playing King to Steel, all the it's gonna be tough. It's a great challenge.

SPEAKER_00 38:46

So we're looking we're looking forward to seeing Indio relevant and then getting getting that program turned around. I think you're the right man. Appreciate it. Thank you guys. We appreciate you for coming in. No problem. All right, guys. So, yeah, if you found some value in this in this episode, you know this, you know the routine. Like, subscribe, and follow. And we'll see you next time on Desert Valley Blitz.