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Zone Read: Rick Garretson Unplugged

Eric Sorenson
Arizona Sports News online

Last week one of the most successful, and respected, Arizona high school head coaches decided to call it a career.

In just six seasons as the head coach at Chandler High, Rick Garretson, 68, led the Wolves to the Open Division Playoffs five times, twice claiming state championships.

“Zone Read” sat down with “Coach G.” for an exclusive, in-depth look back at his career in coaching, as well as what’s next.

Why was now the right time to retire? “Well, I’m going to be 69 years-old next year, and I always told my wife, I’d don’t think there’s any place for a 70 year-old man on a high school football field. You know, the days get a little tougher when you get older. When it’s 110, 112 degrees out, things like that.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a little while. I almost did it last year. I just felt it was time to move on…I’m not getting any younger. Times are different a little bit, and it was time to move on.”

How difficult was this last season for you [Chandler finished 5-6, losing in the first round of the 6A playoffs]? “Very difficult. Very difficult. We had a young team. I never had that many injuries in a football season, which was difficult on the kids, difficult on the staff. The last playoff game, we played four freshmen [smiling]. That’s never happened at Servite (CA) or Chandler. But those kids played really well. I was proud of how hard [our team] played. I was proud of my staff and how the kids went about their business everyday.”

I thought one of the coolest things I saw was, after you announced your retirement, all the coaches you competed against in the Premiere Region, showing you so much respect on social media for all the things you did for them – on, and off, the field. How does it make you feel knowing you made that type of impact on the coaches you competed against on Thursday and Friday nights? “Well, that goes back. I remember when [Basha head coach] Chris McDonald was the freshman coach at Hamilton. I got to know him back then and then, of course, when he got into the football world, the nice things he did at Maricopa.

“I remember him asking me, ‘Should I apply for the Basha job?’ The Basha job at that time was yikes! I said, ‘Are you kidding me? Of course.’ So we developed that relationship early on. So we’ve had those conversations. The ones I’ll remember most are when he was trying to get through tough times, difficult times.

“I got to know Joe over the last couple of years. He had some tough things going on with his grandpa last year. Brock Farrel and I. Brock was with us back with Shaun [Aguano] was the head coach at Chandler. Steve Campbell. Eddy Zubey. You can down the list. These are all good guys…I’ve always been one to promote Arizona high school football.”

When did you first decide you wanted to become a coach? “Oh, I would say it was in 1989. I had just moved back to Orange County (CA). My brother (long-time referee, Ron) decided he wanted to try to make the NBA, which he did for 32 years. Larry Toner got hired as the head coach at Servite High School (CA). He asked me to come out and help with receivers. Next thing you know I’m coaching receivers…

“It was never my goal to be the head coach at Chandler. It was never my goal to be the head coach at anything. I was always happy to be a coordinator. [The Chandler head coaching job] came my way. I took it, and ran with it.”

Is their one game at Chandler that you’ll remember most? “Highland 2018 [6A Semi-final]. We get into the overtime and we’re the second team to go [on offense]. We scored. They scored and they were up seven points. We all wanted to go for two and win the game. Shaun [Aguano] says no, ‘We’re going to kick.’ I said, ‘Are you sure? Because we have a play.’ So [assistant coach] Eric Richardson said, ‘Can we at least take a timeout and talk about it?’ Shaun says, yes. I remember [quarterback Jacob] Conover comes over to Shaun and says, ‘Let’s go for it.’ Shaun says, ‘Alright.’ I guess the analytics says kick the PAT and go play in the next round [in overtime]. We came out, we run the play. Nobody on [tight end Brayden] Liebrock. We head on into the finals and roll Perry in the championship.

“I can remember coming back on the bus that night with Shaun and looking at him going, ‘So, what do you think, man?’ And he goes, ‘That was legendary.’

“As the head coach, I told somebody during the week, from September 2018 to November 0f 2021, we did not lose a football game. That’s four years.”

What did you learn the most working under Shaun – whether it be X’s and O’s, or how to handle things off the field? “He was really good with parents. Of course, Shaun is the guy that doesn’t know anybody, and can go into the bar and, in like an hour, they all know him. He’s got that type of personality.

“He was very family-oriented. When Darell [Garreton – Rick’s son] went to Utah State, his freshmen year came down and he started playing [quarterback], I told Shaun, ‘If Darell is playing, I’m going to be there.’ Which means I could miss some Chandler stuff. That guy was like, ‘Nope, you do what you gotta do, we’ll figure it out.’ Because he was a very family-oriented guy. So, for four years, I did that.’ He was very organized. He held kids accountable and made them compete. He was always positive and just a really solid leader.”

What does it say about the quality of Arizona high school football coaching staff, when you look at Kenny Dillingham, and his staff, and see Shaun, Jason Mohns, and Charlie Ragle helping lead ASU to their best season in a decade and on the cusp of a potential college football playoff birth? “I keep in contact with those guys because they’re good dudes. Seeing how they got that turned around with Arizona high school guys is incredible.

“I think Arizona is known as an offensive state. You know, the types of offenses that we run here. The skill players, and the quarterbacks, and all the things that have come down the pipe. Ball has changed…that is why you have so many recruiters coming to Arizona. Whether it’s the showcases that have really taken off, or people like you, the media, that have helped the whole thing just explode.”

As someone who went to The Open five times in the six years of its existence, and won two Open Division Championships, is the concept still necessary moving forward considering all the movement of schools up, and down, in divisions? “Just my opinion. I’m looking at The Open rankings this year and I’m like, ‘What?!’ Don’t know how the AIA comes up with their stuff. I have no idea but if you’re telling me Liberty is the number four or five team in The Open, you have no idea what you’re talking about.

“Most 5A [coaches] don’t want to be in The Open because I don’t even know how many 5A teams have won an opening round game in The Open. By in large, do you need The Open? No. 

“Brock Farrel, three years ago, didn’t make The Open at 7-3. Their losses were to Chandler, Basha, Hamilton. All Open Teams. Now there’s teams that make The Open with three losses? What? Do you know what I mean?”

Besides the kids, what will you miss most about coaching? “The relationship with my coaches. The relationship with other coaches all over the state. I’ve been fortunate to speak all over the country about Chandler football and how we do our things and go about our business. I’ll also miss the relationships with our administration. Guys like Jim Culver, Shawn Rustad. Our guys at CUSD…all those people are important pieces of my life, and the building of a program like Chandler has built over the last decade. I’ll definitely miss that.”

You will be missed, Coach G.

Enjoy retirement.

Bags of Love

With Thanksgiving coming up later this week, another AZHS coach is giving back to our local community, positively impacting the lives of those less fortunate.

Since 2019, Brophy running backs coach Nyles Outley has helped provide essentials for those in need.

“This event holds great significance for me because I firmly believe in the principle that “to whom much is given, much is expected,” Outley said to the “Zone Read.” “This value was instilled in me from a young age by my parents, who taught me the importance of gratitude and generosity.

“I feel that I have been blessed in many ways, and it’s my responsibility and privilege to extend those blessings to others.”

For more information, and ways to contribute to this incredible cause, visit Outley’s Bags of Love website here. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

 

 

 

 

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A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.

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