Ferrero Brings Former Rival Fenwick Into Fold

Jim Fenwick spent five years as Pierce College football coach trying to stay one step ahead of Chuck Ferrero and rival Valley College.

But this season, instead of coaching against Ferrero, Fenwick will wear the green and gold colors of the Monarchs as part of the Valley staff.

“It’s still kind of a strange feeling,” said Fenwick, who coached Pierce to three Southern California Conference championships from 1983-85. “My whole wardrobe is red and white.”

Severing ties with Pierce was difficult for Fenwick. In addition to playing tailback at the school in 1970-71, he taught and coached there for 12 years, seven as an assistant. Last fall, he was transferred to Valley in the wake of budget cuts in the Los Angeles Community College District and the disbandment of the Pierce football program.

Fenwick taught physical education at Valley last year and was a part-time assistant at Cal State Northridge before resigning from CSUN in January. Unhappy with his limited role on the coaching staff, which Fenwick said was unavoidable because of his teaching commitment at Valley, he decided to take a year off from coaching.

But during the spring, Ferrero approached Fenwick, 35, with an offer to become offensive coordinator for the Monarchs.

“The more I thought about not being involved with a football program and the more I was around here, I felt, ‘Well, here’s an opportunity where I’ll get a little bit more responsibility’ ,” Fenwick said. “I can make a total commitment to the teaching and a total commitment to the coaching. I think so far it’s worked out pretty good.”

Ferrero and other members of the coaching staff agree. The addition of Fenwick, who had a 4-1 record against Valley while at Pierce, should help make what was expected to be a strong Valley team even more formidable.

“We sit around for great amounts of time and kick philosophy around,” Ferrero said. “There is constantly talk between us about what we’ve done that’s successful and what will fit our kids. That’s been a lot of fun, the combining of wits and knowledge.”

The give-and-take also has been enjoyable for Fenwick, whose step up to the four-year level at CSUN was hampered because he couldn’t be on campus full time. Fenwick was responsible for coaching running backs and special teams, but he was absent from much of the film reviews and informal strategy sessions.

“It was frustrating for him to get here at 2:30 and not feel as much a part of things as he wanted to be,” CSUN Coach Bob Burt said. “He was a real positive factor and did a good job while he was here.”

Said Fenwick: “I didn’t really want to go through that again. I’m grateful for the opportunity I had, but I realized that if I’m going to go to the four-year level, I’m going to go full time.

“At this point all I really want to do is run a good offense here at Valley. If someone recognizes that, great. Right now, I’m just concerned with winning our first game.”

Valley doesn’t open its season until Sept. 12 against Ventura, but Fenwick’s influence already has been felt. The Monarchs, who won their final six games after an 0-3 start last season, will feature multiple sets and the wide open offensive style that characterized Fenwick’s teams at Pierce.

“Jim has a real good concept of pass offense,” Ferrero said. “His personality is such that with the players, he can bring them along and bring them along. He does a great job with quarterbacks.”

This season, Fenwick is working with Barry Hanks, Todd Studer and Rusty Wilson. Hanks, the projected starter, is a 6-1, 190-pound sophomore who led the nation in passing efficiency last season, throwing for 1,567 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hanks already has benefited from his time spent with Fenwick.

“He’s broadened all aspects of my game, especially reading defenses,” Hanks said. “He’s not a yeller, but he gets his point across.”

So far, there haven’t been any philosophical disputes between Ferrero and Fenwick. Both agree that the days of competing against each other are over.

“No one tries to overbear anyone else,” Ferrero said. “He has his expertise and I have mine. You throw your coaching staff’s knowledge together for a common goal.

“In the final analysis, it isn’t who was right this time, who was right that time. The most important thing is: Are we successful?”

Fenwick believes the Monarchs are capable of winning the Southern California Conference title. He realizes that it may take time for the players to adjust to him, just as it has taken time for him to feel comfortable.

“It’s not like I grew up here like I did at Pierce,” Fenwick said. “There’s still that bond, but I’m really starting to enjoy the people and the players here.

“It’s not the green and gold or the campus facility. It’s the people.”