They Endure Two Thumbs Down From Critics

Winning section titles in their first year as head coaches at high school football powerhouses Long Beach Poly and Carson didn’t insulate Raul Lara or John Aguirre from criticism. In fact, it only exposed them to more intense scrutiny.

Any time the Jackrabbits or the Colts slipped -- no matter how small the infraction, no matter how tough the opponent -- Lara and Aguirre could rest assured they would hear about it from fans who seem satisfied with nothing short of perfection.

So it was no surprise, then, that there was grumbling galore earlier this season when Poly started 2-2 and Carson opened 2-3. Never mind that the Jackrabbits’ losses were to regional powers Clovis East and Mission Viejo by a combined five points, or that the Colts had lost to tough Clovis West, Los Alamitos and Venice. Fans were irate, and they weren’t shy about voicing their discontent.

“From what I heard, everyone on the Internet was talking bad about us, that we couldn’t coach,” said Lara, Poly’s third-year coach. “Then you have parent meetings where the parents think they need to say something about what’s going on in the program.”

Carson Athletic Director Richard Masson fielded calls from parents and boosters who were critical of Aguirre, perceived by many as an outsider when he took over the program in 1999 and promptly led the Colts to their 10th City Section title.

“You’re always going to get people who are displeased with you or the way you do things,” Masson said. “That’s just how it is.”

Lara and Aguirre have guided their programs from sputtering starts to fantastic finishes, as each prepares to play Friday for a section title. Poly (11-2) plays Los Angeles Loyola (10-3) at the Home Depot Center in Carson in the Southern Section Division I championship game, while Carson (10-3) gets a rematch with Venice (13-0) at the Coliseum for the City championship.

The coaches say another title would only serve to muffle their detractors temporarily, and that’s the sad reality of coaching two of the more tradition-laden programs in Southern California.

While Poly has appeared in the Division I title game in six of the last seven seasons, Carson’s treasure trove of 10 City championships is exceeded only by those at Los Angeles Manual Arts (15 titles) and Wilmington Banning (11).

“Expectations are not only high but unrealistic,” said Shawn Ashley, who, as Poly’s co-principal in charge of athletics, is often the first to hear complaints from parents and boosters. “You can’t expect any school to go year after year and always win a championship.

“Any little stumble that the team has, you hear, ‘You see, they don’t have it.’ They aren’t happy we beat Edison, 21-0 [in a Division I semifinal], they wanted it 35-0. It’s a constant barrage, but it’s from a select few verbal people.”

Ashley said it’s important to understand that the concerns of those who express their dismay are not reflective of the entire community.

“It’s a few people who feel they can second-guess the coach,” he said. “There are guys who think the team should be throwing the ball on this play but don’t have to take any responsibility if it doesn’t go right. They get the luxury of mouthing off without any accountability.”

Aguirre said the only expectations that matter are those set by himself and school administrators, who demand a quality product but won’t blanch if the team falls short of a City title.

“If we’re out there and we’re sloppy and falling all over the place and nobody’s executing the blocking assignment and can’t complete a pass, they should fire me,” Aguirre said. “But if you see progress and you see kids attempting to do the things they’re supposed to do, playing fast-paced, high-level football, that’s what you should strive for.”

Aguirre has the unenviable task of coaching in the shadow of the legendary Gene Vollnogle, who still strolls along the sideline at Carson games on occasion. Aguirre has already accomplished something his predecessor never did, winning five consecutive league titles, yet the nitpicking continues.

Masson, Carson’s athletic director, said some have even gone as far as to criticize the soft-spoken, keep-to-himself coach’s personality.

Aguirre’s response?

“I know people would like to see me be more active on the sidelines, but that’s not me,” he said. “I try to be as unemotional as possible so my kids will be the same way. If I remain composed, then my team is more likely to remain composed.”

Lara said the best way to handle criticism is to “listen and let it go,” though he concedes that harsh words have often driven him since he was an undersized linebacker at Poly who was told he was too small to play in college. Several years later, he cracked the lineup at UC Santa Barbara.

“What people don’t understand is that we do more than win with the kids,” Lara said. “We try to build character and life skills and make them accountable.

“The criticism is never going to end. But as long as the kids know what we’re all about, that’s what matters.”

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Times staff writer Eric Stephens contributed to this report.