matt logan

Prep talk: Magic of the 300 club in football coaching

If you reach 300 career coaching victories in high school football in California, it usually means you’re headed to any and all halls of fame.

Matt Logan of Corona Centennial became the 15th coach to reach the magic club with a win on Thursday night.

It’s a combination of longevity and success. Many of California’s most memorable coaches are on the list.

The next coach within reach is Robert Garrett of Crenshaw. He started the season with 290 victories but has yet to be on the sideline while being under administrative leave by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Garrett has stayed home, checked in each day with full pay and continues to say he has done nothing wrong. LAUSD has 120 days to finish its ongoing investigation.

Crenshaw is 5-1 under interim coach Terrence Whitehead. Ronnie Flores of CalHiSports.com, which compiles the 300-club list, said Garrett will get credit for each Crenshaw victory or loss if he is eventually reinstated as coach.

Here’s a list of the 15 coaches in the 300 club, according to CalHiSports.com:

399 — Bob Ladouceur, De La Salle

360 — Marijon Ancich, St. Paul, Tustin

339 — Bruce Rollinson, Mater Dei

338 — Bob Johnson Los Amigos, El Toro, Mission Viejo

338 — Herb Meyer, Oceanside, El Camino

323 — John Barnes, Magnolia, Los Alamitos

319 — Lou Farrar, Royal Oak, Charter Oak

316 — Jim Benkert, Westlake, Oaks Christian, Simi Valley

316 — Kevin Rooney, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame

314 — Bill Foltner, Princeton, Middletown

313 — Randy Blankenship, Nevada Union, Clovis West, Fallbrook, Capistrano Valley, Madera, Aptos

306 — Mike Marrujo, Pius X, Placentia Valencia

300 — Matt Logan, Corona Centennial

300 — Steve Denman, Tehachapi

300 — Mike Herrington, Bellflower, Hart

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Corona Centennial football coach Matt Logan gets his 300th career win

It was a moment applauded and appreciated by high school football fans and coaches throughout California.

Matt Logan, respected and admired for his vision, creativity and consistency as head coach at Corona Centennial for 29 years, achieved historic victory No. 300 on Thursday night when his team delivered a 62-20 win over Eastvale Roosevelt.

He becomes the 15th football coach in state history to reach 300 wins, according to CalHiSports.com. Jim Benkert at Simi Valley is the only other active coach in the exclusive club that is topped by Hall of Famer Bob Ladouceur with 399 wins at Concord De La Salle.

Corona Centennial football coach Matt Logan closing in on 300 victories

Corona Centennial football coach Matt Logan closing in on 300 victories in his career.

(Craig Weston)

The school tried to get as many of his former players to come to the game to celebrate, with 18 graduating classes represented. Afterward, Logan received lots of hugs and a special trophy from athletic director Tony Barile. There was a large sign unfurled with “300 wins” prominent, along with special T-shirts and hats made for the occasion. His teams have won 10 Southern Section titles. The Huskies (5-1) are hoping to earn an 11th when the playoffs begin next month.

“Something I’ll remember forever,” Logan said.

One of the humorous moments was Logan trying to recognize and remember some of his former players from as far back as 1995.

“I actually recognized most of them, especially from the ones from when I first started,” he said.

Logan, 58, started out as a defensive coordinator at Centennial for two years before taking over as head coach. To show his versatility, he became known for his program’s warp speed, no-huddle offense through the years. His team in 2015 remains the only team other than St. John Bosco and Mater Dei to win a Division 1 championship.

“I love this city. I grew up in this city,” Logan said of his loyalty to the community.

Two Centennial running backs, Malaki Davis and Zander Lewis, led the Huskies on Thursday night, each rushing for more than 100 yards. Davis had four touchdowns.

Next week is a showdown league game against unbeaten Vista Murrieta.

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