Perry football builds coaching staff to compete with Chandler giants
When Preston Jones stepped down three years ago as head football coach, Gilbert Perry was in the midst of a downward spiral.
The program had dipped after the Purdy quarterback brothers, Brock and Chubba, graduated, causing an uphill battle back to relevance.
Enter Joseph Ortiz.
Ortiz followed a legend at Glendale Cactus in Larry Fetkenhier, hard shoes to fill, but he got the Cobras into the Open eight, which ended up being a one-and-done after an unbeaten regular season in 4A.
Now, entering his fourth season at Perry in 2024, Ortiz feels he's now there, or at least very close, to having Perry where it once was in 2017, when the Pumas, behind Brock Purdy, reached the 6A final before losing a 49-42 shootout with Chandler.
The following season, with junior Chubba Purdy, the Pumas got back to the 6A final, again losing to Chandler, this time 65-28. In 2019, the Pumas went 7-5, falling in the quarterfinals. Then, in the 2020 COVID season, they went 0-6, and Jones was ready to call it a day as head coach.
Perry went 3-8 in Ortiz's first season in 2021, 4-7 in 2022, then 8-4 last season, reaching the 6A semifinals, before losing to eventual champion Scottsdale Saguaro.
Now that Ortiz has his footing in the Premier Region, understanding what's needed to compete with the big boys, he's bringing in reinforcements to boost his coaching staff. He feels this is a year when the Pumas either get into the Open or take the 6A title.
Former Scottsdale Chaparral, Arizona State and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams is joining the staff. He will be the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.
Geremy Davis, a five-year NFL wide receiver, will be the assistant wide receivers coach, pending board approval. Tom Parsons also will assist with receivers.
Former UTEP cornerback coach Trevin Wade, a six-year NFL vet as a defensive back, will be the DBs coach, pending board approval.
Former Show Low state-record receiver Josh Weeks, who played tight end at BYU, will help out with tight ends, pending approval by the school district governing board.
Others on staff: Adam Snyder, a 10-year NFL vet, is an assistant offensive line coach; former Utah State running back D.C. Coleman will be the running backs coach; Mike Giovando, a private quarterback coach for 25 years, will be an offensive consultant and help with quarterbacks; Jake Ayala, a tight end at Queen Creek and Northern Arizona, will be the quarterbacks coach; and former Southeast Missouri State tight end Tyler French will work with linebackers.
"We have a ton of D-I and NFL experience," Ortiz said. "We have been able to gel together so well because there are no egos.
"They love ball and just want to help develop kids and compete. Our goal at Perry is to give kids the best high school experience possible and having top-level coaching is what helps with that. They also respect the high school game and understand it’s a different game of football and respect me as the head coach and coach Clare (Justin Clare) as the defensive coordinator. Everyone is just excited around Puma Nation.
"We’re riding the momentum of last year and people want to be a part and help take this program to where it should be. At the top."
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Perry football builds coaching staff to compete with Chandler giants
