Phoenix

Phoenix focuses on building new culture

First-year coach Robinson excited about Pirates’ potential

By Will Denner

Mail Tribune

PHOENIX — In the face of tragedy, Phoenix High football coaches are hoping to instill a familial culture for a program and group of players trying to find their footing.

On Sept. 8, 2020, while the Pirates sat at home along with the rest of the state waiting for their football season — delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic — to start, the Almeda fire swept through parts of Ashland, Talent and Phoenix, destroying Ramirez thousands of homes and killing three people.

Though firefighters saved all schools in the Phoenix-Talent School District, an estimated 50% of families in the district lost their homes, as well as 25 staff Greenwood members.

Not only had the Pirates struggled in previous seasons, posting an 0-8 record in 2018 and 2-6 in 2019, they also faced the aftermath of the fire heading into the spring 2021 season, Sharrar which they ultimately finished 0-6.

During the same season, another coach was pondering the idea of a return to Phoenix. Mike Robinson, who played fullback at Southern Oregon University under head coach Jeff Olson in the early 2000s, came back to the Rogue Valley following a brief professional career in the Arena Football League cut short by a knee injury.

His early coaching career included a three-year run as an assistant at Phoenix (2004-07). Later, after stints with various semi pro teams in the region, he also coached at St. Mary’s in 2019 as well as this past spring.

It was during the most recent season that Robinson and fellow assistant Patrick Shed were on the Phoenix campus for a game between the Crusaders and Brookings-Harbor. The two agreed that if and when a position came available, Robinson would apply.

“Just being at the school again and the environment coaching there again, it just kind of brought back old memories,” Robinson recalled. “Looking at the school and the beautiful facilities they had, and understanding that the kids there went

ANDY ATKINSON / MAIL TRIBUNE

New Phoenix head coach Mike Robinson, a former fullback at Southern Oregon University, talks with players during a preseason practice last month.

through a lot — just the tragedy of the community and the rebuild.”

Less than two months later when the head coaching job opened, Robinson followed through and got the job.

He and his staff, which includes Shed, Tim Seeley, Brent Bowker, David Patstone and JJ Latu, are in the midst of a rebuild with their players, one that goes well beyond their performance on the field. Robinson believes a culture built on family and love will best serve the young men they’re leading.

“The main role right now is an extension of family,” Robinson said of himself and his staff. “(We’re) not afraid to tell these kids that we appreciate them being there, and that we love them as students and as young men. It’s part of our mantra that we tell our kids to go home and tell people in their homes that they love them and they appreciate them. We’re trying to get back to that family mentality that sometimes when people go through tragedies we can kind of silo, you know, ‘this is our problem, we don’t talk about what happens here.’ And that’s not usually how things get ameliorated, get solved. It’s having a bigger base and a bigger village.” Robinson is uniquely positioned in the community through his prior coaching experience, as well as his job as a medical social worker with AccentCare Asante Home Health, where he works with people in Jackson and Josephine counties.

HEAD COACH

Mike Robinson (first year)

GENERAL

INFORMATION

ASSISTANTS:

Brent Bowker (linebackers/running backs), David Patstone (linemen), Patrick Shed (co-defensive coordinator/ Robinson defensive backs/ receivers), Tim Seeley (co-defensive coordinator/defensive line/tight ends), JJ Latu (JV assistant/defensive backs/receivers). 2020-21 OVERALL RECORD: 0-6.

PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR: Sixth 2019 RESULTS

PHOENIX OPPONENTS 13 ..................Cascade Christian 52 27 .......................... Newport 0 7 ....................... Sweet Home 22 0 ...........................Mazama 45 27 .................... Klamath Union 40 27 ........................... Henley 42 36 ............... McLoughlin/Griswold 20 42 ...................... North Valley 43 2020-21 RESULTS

PHOENIX OPPONENTS 0 .......... Hidden Valley/Illinois Valley 47 0 ............................ Henley 68 9 ..................... Klamath Union 20 0 ...................... North Eugene 40 7 ....................... North Valley 21 0 ........................... Douglas 40 RETURNING STARTERS

OFFENSE (6): Receiver/quarterback Ryan Watts (5-9, 150, so.), tight end Trevor Sharrar (6-1, 215, jr.), guard Andrew Hawkins (5-9, 210, sr.), center Garrett Walker (6-2, 250, so.), running back Jair Ramirez (5-10, 165, jr.), running back Will Greenwood (5-8, 160, jr.).

DEFENSE (4): Lineman Charles Butcher (6-2, 240, so.), linebacker Jair Ramirez, defensive back Will Greenwood, safety Ryan Watts.

OTHER NOTABLES

Lineman Romi Pulido (6-3, 270, sr.), quarterback Hunter Everhart (6-0, 165, jr.), defensive back Jackson Seldon (5-10, 170, jr.), receiver JJ Jimenez (5-7, 160, jr.).

2021 SCHEDULE

Sept. 3 ............... at Sutherlin, 7 p.m. Sept. 11 ................ STAYTON, 4 p.m. Sept. 17 ................ at Elmira, 7 p.m. Sept. 24 ...........................TBD Oct. 2 ............ at Hidden Valley, 7 p.m. Oct. 8 .................. at Henley, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 .......... KLAMATH UNION, 7 p.m. Oct. 22 ................at Mazama, 7 p.m. Oct. 29 ............ NORTH VALLEY, 7 p.m.

“The main role right now is an extension of family. (We’re) not afraid to tell these kids that we appreciate them being there, and that we love them as students and as young men. It’s part of our mantra that we tell our kids to go home and tell people in their homes that they love them and they appreciate them.”