With a roster that has such well-known athletic names as Montana and Gretzky, one would think that Oaks Christian (Calif.) football coach Bill Redell has a tough job.
However, it is quite the opposite, as he considers himself one of the luckiest coaches in America.
And why not?
Malcolm Jones (32) was an impact player as a freshman.
File photo by Jann Hendry
This year’s team will feature quarterback Nick Montana, the son of Hall of Famer Joe Montana; running back Malcolm Jones, who is ranked in every top 20 recruiting list for the Class of 2010 in the country; two-way standout Alani Fau; receiver Trey Smith, son of actor Will Smith; and backup QB Trevor Gretzky, son of hockey’s Great One.
Recent teams have included the likes of quarterback Jimmy Clausen (now at Notre Dame) and running back Marc Tyler (USC), the son of former NFL player Wendell Tyler.
Throw in the fact that the Lions have won six CIF Southern Section crowns, including 2008, claim a 48-game win streak in their history and sent dozens of players to Division I programs, and it’s easy to see why Redell is smiling.
“I have been fortunate to coach some amazing football players,” said the 68-year-old Redell, a Canadian Football League quarterback and defensive back. “I have never had a problem with the superstar kids.”
Oaks Christian was the brain child of David and Dallas Price, who sought an excellent academic, athletic and Christian school for their grandchildren. In 2000, the school opened its doors.
The mission statement is one reason why Redell became interested in the job in 2000.
“The school is two miles from my house,” Redell said. “I applied for the job and it has been amazing. Oaks Christian is a fine academic school and it is certainly a school of Christian values. We live up to our mission statement and there is a genuine concern for our students. A lot of people do not realize this, but there are no athletic scholarships given out. Approximately 35 percent of our students receive financial aid on a need basis.”
In addition to the school itself, Redell credits his staff as a main reason why the Lions have been one of the kings of California high school football.
The staff includes 19-year NFL veteran Clay Matthews, Bob Richards and Bob Bates, two former California coaches of the year, and former University of Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen, the older brother of Jimmy.
“Our coaching staff is second to none,” Redell said. “It is a very experienced staff and the average age of our staff is 65. Nobody cares who gets the credit because by the time the game ends, none of us can remember who should get the credit.”
New coach with special credentials
A new member of the coaching staff will be Joe Montana himself, who, according to Redell, will be in the press box.
The move has brought about a change in the head coach’s philosophy.
“We have a policy where we don't want fathers coaching their kids,” Redell said. “But we made an exception. So the new rule is, if you’ve been a three-time Super Bowl MVP, you can come out and coach your kid.”
Redell himself is a Hall of Famer – he was enshrined in 2001 into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was a NAIA All-American at Occidental in the early 1960s.
After his playing career in Canada ended, Redell entered the coaching ranks, serving as an assistant on the coaching staff at Cal State Fullerton in 1970.
Following a plane crash that killed the majority of the Titans’ staff, Redell took a leave of absence for nine years from coaching.
“When my kids became old enough to play Pop Warner, I got back into it. I coach because of the relationships that I build with coaches and players,” Redell said.
Redell received his first opportunity to become a head coach in 1982 at Crespi High School, where he won his first mythical state title. From 1992 to 1999, he served as head coach at St. Francis High School.
Despite six Southern Section crowns and a State Bowl championship in 2006, Redell admits that he is still surprised by what the Lions have been able to accomplish: a 108-11 overall record, three consecutive Northwest Division titles and six consecutive sectional titles, a CIF Southern Section record.
“If their coach was a little smarter, we’d have a few more wins and less losses,” Redell said.
In addition, Oaks Christian also had a section-record postseason winning streak of 25 games and the team won the inaugural CIF Division II State Bowl Game over Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa in 2006.
Star players
During the 2006 season, Oaks Christian was ranked among the top 10 nationally in most polls.
“I am surprised,” Redell said. “We have had some great players. We had 11 Division I players in one class, and this past year, we put three kids into the Ivy League. We already have six players on this coming season’s team that have been offered.”
With the success, Redell and Oaks Christian have had no problem attracting players to its program. However, the success has not come without critics. Redell said he’s heard it all from detractors, including that he recruits players, something he vehemently denies.
“The players keep coming and the talent comes to us,” he said. “We have never recruited one player, and those who say otherwise are off base. If we’re cheating, then turn us in. The more success you have, the more shots you are going to have taken at you. I understand that, and it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to.”
Nick Montana threw for 2,404 yards and 33 TDs in 2008.
File photo by Jann Hendry
One of the players that came to Oaks Christian is Nick Montana, who transferred from perennial national power De La Salle last July. Montana won the job during summer workouts and threw for 2,404 yards and 33 touchdowns.
“There were no guarantees made,” he said. “He had to come out and earn a spot like any other player and as we continued, it became evident that he was one heck of a quarterback. Nick is very talented, and he will only get better.”
Montana has 14 offers from various schools, including Notre Dame (where dad starred), South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio State, Stanford, Washington and Alabama.
In addition to Montana, Redell expects big things out of Jones, Zach Stout and Fau this season.
“We have guys who have been offered by at least six schools right now, and some of our underclassmen are Division I players,” Redell said.
A season ago, the Lions were dominant, shutting out five opponents. They ended the season with a 63-28 victory over Gardena Serra in the CIF Southern Section Northwest Division title game.
In that game, Jones amassed 302 total yards, including 206 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Montana was 15 of 23 for 243 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Hungry hearts
The Lions enter this season having to replace seven starters, but Redell takes stock in the fact that he brings back 14 starters. The coach also acknowledges a very tough schedule in 2009.
“We are traveling to Skyline out of Washington on Sept. 18 for a national televised game,” he said. “We were criticized for playing a weak schedule, but we played some good teams. It will be tougher to repeat this year. We are going to have to avoid injuries. We only have 38 players. It should be a good season, but we have to work and put the hours in.”
And if anyone doubts whether or not Oaks Christian will put the work in, Redell has a warning.
“Our kids are hungry and it’s not hard to get up for games and be hungry,” he said. “Nobody wants to be a part of the class that does not win. The kids feel obligated to keep our tradition alive.”
Paul Gable is the Senior Prep Writer for football.com. Check out football.com. for NCAA football and NFL coverage.
