Javier Zazueta
A new but familiar face will coach the Pierce College football team this year. Already doubling last year’s wins within the first three games of the season, the Brahmas are being led by Efrain Martinez.
Martinez was the assistant offensive coordinator in the disastrous 2006 season, which included a player having a fatal seizure a week before the first game, another player being fatally shot outside his home and players accusing former head coach Kevin Moore of making promises of room and board.
“We were just out there coaching, it was a complete mess,” said Martinez.
Graduating from Van Nuys High School in 1996, Coach Martinez immediately became the Junior Varsity coach until 2000.
While coaching the J.V. squad, he played for Los Angeles Valley College for one season, becoming the tight end coach in 2000.
He was also the offensive coach until 2002, when El Camino Real High School hired him for the same position.
In 2004, he became the running back coach for Pierce and in 2005 he did scouting and training “for himself.”
As the new football coach, Martinez wants to focus on the future of the players more than the final score.
Besides being the football coach, Martinez is also a math teacher at El Camino Real, as well as mathematics department chair. “I wanted to teach,” said Martinez. “I wanted to help future players with math because I knew they have trouble.”
“It’s not so much about the game, it’s more about the kids,” said Martinez. “We (coaches) are like their fathers.”
“We tell them our experience,” said Martinez. “We grew up very poor, we grew up in poverty. If we overcame, they can overcome.”
“If we have no excuses, they have no excuse not to succeed.” Martinez said.
“Football is a team game, the team likes each other,” said Lofrano. “They want to play together, the only stat that counts.”
“I love chess,” says Martinez. “Football is like chess. Everything you do has a reason.
“Last year was no good on the field,” said Lofrano. “Worse off the field.”
Coach Martinez wants to change the image of the football program.
“We’re trying to go from the (Oakland) Raiders image to a (New England) Patriots. We are trying to go from a dark image to a good, clean image.”
Coach Martinez doesn’t like to take all the credit. “Without my assistant coaches,” he says. “We wouldn’t have this conversation.”
After only winning one game in the entire 2006 season, the Brahmas already have two wins in the 2007 season.
“It feels good to be winning,” said Martinez. “We hope to get better. We hope the people come out and see us.”
Football Coach Martinez ()