After 24 seasons of coaching as an assistant alongside the legendary Frank Mazzotta, Dean Grosfeld has been named head coach of Falcons’ football.
Grosfeld will be entering his 25th overall season, his first as head coach, but will still be entitled to his previous coaching positions, as offensive coordinator and the quarterback coach.
“It’s very hard… having to pick up all that slack is very hard, but I have to give a lot of credit to my staff,” Grosfeld said.
He continued, “Someone from the outside would’ve had a hard time doing that, but since I’ve been here and I’ve been involved in it then I think that transitions a little easier.”
Head coach Dean Grosfeld with his quarterbacks. Grosfeld along with being head coach is also the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.
Not only did Grosfeld assist Mazzotta throughout more than half of his coaching career at Cerritos College, but also played under Mazzotta in 1990-91.
Grosfeld to this day holds the single-game record for most passing yards with 388 yards against Mt. San Antonio College in 1991.
“Coach Mazzotta was always a father figure to all of us that have played… I’m not even going to attempt to step into his shoes,” Grosfeld said.
Mazzotta coached at Cerritos College for 40 years and Grosfeld only hopes to continue the legacy of building character within the players on the roster.
He continued, “We’re gonna create what this place should be and what he always wanted this place to be, and that’s a champion and being at the top level.”
Grosfeld is not trying to fill his shoes in any way, shape or form because he says that would be impossible.
“I understand following him because no one knows it better… so I know what he instilled in a positive way and I will continue to build on that,” Grosfeld said.
Grosfeld continued, “I would stay here as long as they’ll ever have me, I would not go anywhere,” Grosfeld said, “I’ve been here for 24 years, if I can retire here that would be my dream.”
Head coach Dean Grosfeld talking to his team after practice. Grosfeld is entering his first season as head coach.
It would be disappointing for Grosfeld if he had a team that went 13-0, but feels it would be more disappointing to have players who were not good students
Grosfeld said, “So many times in junior college football, people spend so much time on talent, that they forget about making the [player] a whole rounded person.”
The Cerritos College football team is coming back from 3-7 overall season.
“We’re very young, but we’re very talented. The core group that we have back is very good… we have a tight little nucleus surrounded by a really big group of young kids,” said Grosfeld about the start of the regular season.
This is the first season that Cerritos College is playing against Long Beach City College since the 2015 post season.
The rival game between these two teams is a traditional fight for the cup.
“They’re gonna be very good, but our kids are gonna come to play against them,” Grosfeld said.
Head coach Dean Grosfeld on the field watching his team practice. The team is preparing for the game on Aug. 23.
Grosfeld said, “Our goal is concentrating on East L.A., if we have an opportunity to get after and have a lot of success against East L.A. that’ll perpetuate itself.”
The team is going to just take it one week at a time this season, they are focusing on the now rather than eyeing the end of the season.
Despite having a very tough schedule, Grosfeld is confident the team can compete with the teams they’re facing this season.
“It doesn’t mean we’re gonna go 10-0… ,but if we can win seven or eight games that’ll put us right at the top.”
The Cerritos College football team has its first exhibition game on Aug. 23 at home against Mt. San Jacinto College.
“You would be lying if you didn’t say your first team ever wouldn’t be remembered forever,” said Grosfeld referring to his first year as head coach.
He ended with, “It’s not about me, it’s about we, but I’ll always remember it as my first football team for sure.”
