Hesperia's Goodnough, Barstow's Leleimene finalists for L.A. Rams Coach of the Year award
For the second straight year, the High Desert is represented in the final voting for the Los Angeles Rams High School Coach of the Year award.
On Wednesday, Barstow head coach Clayton Leleimene and Hesperia head coach Casey Goodnough were announced as two of the top 3 finalists. The pair of local coaches are joined by Beaumont’s Jeff Steinberg.
Goodnough, who guided the Scorpions to a second-place finish in the Mojave River League standings, couldn’t help but feel thankful to find out the news.
“The community support has been amazing. It was an honor to even be nominated, let alone make the top 3,” Goodnough said. “It’s an amazing feeling when kids on campus and teachers say congrats and that they voted for you. Shows the Hesperia campus culture and support.”
Leleimene, who is in his second season as head coach at Barstow, echoed Goodnough’s sentiment about community support.
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“Barstow has always been a community where I believe is capable of accomplishing great things with significant impact,” Leleimene said. “This is one example of it. The community rallies when it’s about our kids to include past, present and future Aztecs. I’m just happy for our athletes, staff, booster club, our youth football program and the entire city for this opportunity given by the Los Angeles Rams.”
Earlier this year, the Rams announced they were seeking candidates from throughout California for the award. Both Leleimene and Goodnough made the top 20 and have continued to advance in the voting stages.
Last year, Oak Hills head coach Robert Metzger was one the top three finalists, while Diamond Bar’s Matt Castaneda received the award during the Christmas Day game between the Rams and Denver Broncos. Castaneda was awarded a $3,500 equipment grant and a seven-day cruise, while Metzger and Narciso Diaz, of Benjamin Franklin High School, were given $1,000 equipment grants.
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This year, the Rams will award the top coach $3,000 for their football program, with an additional $3,000 donated from partners Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions.
“I really love how the High Desert has rallied. To have two of us up there says a lot. And last year (Robert) Metzger was in the top 3. This is so great for the area,” Goodnough said.
To cast votes, see the list of finalists and for more information, visit therams.com/community/coach-of-the-week.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Two High Desert coaches finalists for L.A. Rams Coach of the Year award
