New strength coach for West Valley Eagles

Photo by Paul Robeson, Reporter

EXPLAINING THE DAY: New Strength Coach Tim Patterson talk to students in the weight room about their daily training schedules at West Valley high School

Football season is eagerly anticipated by many sports fans who love to attend a live game or watch it on television be it high school, collegiate, or professional.

Participants in the game, coaches or players, believe the season is year round and prepare for the actual season in different ways.

Locally, a noted change took place over the past three seasons with the West Valley Eagles. Coach Greg Grandell found and employed James Smith as a physical education advisor and strength coach — some of the reason for the Eagles’ success. The Eagles ripped through their opponents in the 2004 season for a Northern Section Championship and the ‘05 and ‘06 seasons came very close to repeat feats.

One week ago today, Smith flew from San Francisco to Pittsburgh where he will be doing the same job for the Univ. of Pittsburgh.

The disappointment on Grandell’s face was replaced with a grin as, on the same day, the new physical education advisor and strength coach, Tim Patterson, took over.

Grandell explained that there is no budget for, or is there an official strength coach position. It is a “volunteer” job that is paid out of “raised football funds.” Grandell believes West Valley has the only high school strength coach in the state.

Patterson played sports as a youngster and developed into a prominent athlete and was named first team all league at Butte College and Chico State where he played football during his college years.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and has coached high school athletics for 12 years and taught five yeas of high school biology at Linden High School in Stockton.

While finishing his master’s degree in Exercise Physiology at Chico State, Patterson coached the offensive line for Butte College and also received a health fitness instructor certification from the American College of Sports Medicine.

Grandell is happy with Patterson’s arrival, not only for the obvious benefits to the students and the football program, but because it also gives him a little more time to accomplish the multitude of tasks required by a scholastic football coach.