Edison’s Johnny Sears Jr. ready to lead his alma mater. ‘Love to help and it’s an honor’
.jpg "Edison High football coach Johnny Sears Jr. instructs his team during workouts.")
Johnny Sears Jr. was named the Edison High football coach a few months ago and he’s relishing the opportunity of bringing back success to the program.
He understands it might take time, but he said he’s going to be patient and continue to teach his players what he learned when he played at Edison, Michigan, Eastern Michigan and in the Canadian Football League.
“The willingness to learn,” he said. “The competition and wanting to know more, asking questions, being more vocal and understanding of being really living in the process. Not trying to look too far forward and being in a moment.”
Sears takes over at Edison for Michael Stamps who was the coach for the past three seasons where the Tigers went 2-8 last season after a 6-5 season the previous season and 2-7 in his first season. Stamps resigned.
Sears was on Stamps’ coaching staff before being elevated to head coach.
Stamps said he wasn’t a fortune teller and had a list of goals. Being a head coach wasn’t one of them.
“When I was playing professionally, I didn’t think I would be a coach at this level,” he said. “I love to help. I love to give the game back to the younger ones, but to be the head coach of your alma mater and for it to be Edison and all the tradition and things and when you hear about Edison to be a part of that and now be another coach to help that legacy continue, man. It’s an honor.”
While the struggles were there at Edison the past seasons, bringing back the restored tradition might take a little time.
It’s all about patience for Sears.
“Got a lot of younger guys,” he said. “This is my first year so of course it’s going to be a process. For me, thinking it’s just going to be the hardest season because it’s the first season and just take it how it is and roll with the punches. But knowing that everything is processed and it’s football, the game of football is a process within itself.
“We’re still trying to find ourselves. We are still trying to find an identity. I expected us to have an identity and lean on that and display it at a highest level. Be exciting, be violent and be passionate and have fun.”
Edison schedule
Aug. 23 vs. Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 29 at Clovis, 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 at Buchanan, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 vs. Clovis West, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Shafter, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 27 Bye
Oct. 4 at Madera, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 vs. San Joaquin Memorial, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 vs. Sanger, TBA
Oct. 25 vs. Garza, 7 p.m.
Nov. 1 vs. Bullard, 7:30 p.m.
