Calabasas picks Papotta to head Coyote football program




MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn  A NEW START-New Calabasas High School football coach Ken Papotta replaces Larry Edwards.

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn A NEW START-New Calabasas High School football coach Ken Papotta replaces Larry Edwards.

Calabasas picks Papotta to
head Coyote football program
By John Loesing
Acorn Staff Writer

Calabasas High School has named Ken Papotta as the new varsity football coach.


An assistant coach last year for receivers and defensive backs, Papotta will replace head coach Larry Edwards, who steps down after 23 years at the Calabasas helm.


Papotta’s arrival coincided with the team’s first year in the Marmonte League. Calabasas finished 2-5 in its conference debut and 5-5 overall, after stepping up from the smaller Frontier League.


"He just did an outstanding job. He coached every single down and highly motivated the kids," said Jay Guidetti, Calabasas principal. "He was intense and passionate about the game."


Like many assistants, Papotta waited patiently for his opportunity—and worked hard until it arrived.


Papotta served off-and-on as an assistant at Simi Valley High School since 1990. In 1999, Papotta coached special teams under Ron Veres. He took off a year in 2000, but in 2001, Papotta was promoted to defensive coordinator under head coach Steve Carrol.


During the 1997 and 1998 season, Papotta assisted Ron Wilford at Moorpark High School where he coached special teams, linebackers and tight ends.


He also had stints as an assistant at Thousand Oaks High School and California Lutheran University.


"The reason I didn’t get the position in both situations [Simi and Moorpark] is because I had never been a head coach before," Papotta said, "and my response to that always is how did [NFL Tampa Bay coach] John Gruden get to become John Gruden, or Vince Lombardi get to be a Vince Lombardi? Someone gave them an opportunity to shine, and they did."


The coaching change ended months of speculation about the future of Edwards and the Calabasas program. After four consecutive winning seasons from 1995 to1998, Edwards went 14-29 in his next four years, and lost in the first round of the playoffs each year until 2002 when the team missed the postseason altogether.


Some believed Edwards might be replaced before the team entered Marmonte play, but Guidetti said Edwards deserved to remain on the job and get at least one shot at the Division IV competition.


"It wasn’t a decision already made," Guidetti said. "It was kind of a mutual agreement. Larry wanted to stay around another year to see how he could fare in the Marmonte League, but he had been contemplating stepping down."


The Coyotes fared better than most expected, going 3-0 in the pre-league season and finishing ahead of both Newbury Park and Simi Valley in the final conference standings. Calabasas lost close games to Westlake, Royal and Thousand Oaks.


Edwards will remain at the high school as a history teacher.


Papotta, who teaches English and history, said he looks forward to assembling his coaching staff and working on spring drills with the team. "The one thing I can say I will do is our teams will be the best at the basics," Papotta said. "I also believe in being totally balanced."


He said he would let his talent dictate his offensive and defensive strategies. "I don’t try to take the offense I want to do and shove it into a program if it doesn’t work," he said. "It’s kind of like taking a square peg and trying to shove it into a round hole. My philosophy is you have to be flexible and adapt to the personnel you have."


Fletcher Reel will be Papotta’s defensive coordinator and top assistant.


Returning players include tailback Obi Ikemefuna, quarterback Keith Barrett, defensive end Rick Harrison, and linemen Chase Smith and Adam Silver.


Ikemefuna, a strong runner with 4.6 speed, figures to be the star of the show.


"He’ll be the number one guy I’ll focus the team around," Papotta said.


Don’t forget the new head coach––lots of eyes will be on him, too.


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