Breakfast with Bells Program Book

Breakfast with

Program Introduction

Brian Adams

Invocation

Fr. Gerald Wade, S.J. ’55

Alumni Update

Matt Zuniga ’06

Panel Discussion Guest Speakers: Dwight Clark BCP Football Alumni President’s Remarks

Chris Meyercord ’88

Videos produced by Bellarmine Creative Studios

1915

Before the move to Bellarmine’s current campus, the high school students play as the Santa Clara Prep team.

The Early Years 1915-1937

During the earliest years of Bellarmine’s existence as Santa Clara College, and later as the University of Santa Clara High School, little mention was made of athletic teams consisting of the high school students. The University athletic teams actively competed with other colleges, and even with some high schools. It was assumed that if the prep students at the University were big enough and good enough to play, then they were allowed to compete with the college students.

There is, however, some reference made to the “Santa Clara Prep” team, and by 1915 it is clear there was an independent team for the high school students. With the move to the current College Park campus in 1925, Bellarmine took on its own identity. In addition to changing the name to Bellarmine College Preparatory, the high school’s administrators also found it desirable to change the school colors to blue and white in honor of Our Lady.

1938 Coach Dennis Heenan begins his eight-year varsity head coaching career, finishing with a 45-12-6 record.

Above, Dennis Heenan displays Hall members his Bellarmine Mel Micheletti Hall of Fame po ’49 and legenda rtrait to future ry SCU athletic trainer, Henry Sc hmidt

Dennis Heenan 1938-1941 1943-1946 1965-1976 (JV )

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Dennis (Denny) Heenan, prope lled Bellarmin accepted a po e football into sition at Bella legitimacy. He rm ine College Pre coaching footb enan p in 1938, tea all, basketball ching history a , and baseball baseball at N nd . He had playe otre Dame Un d basketball a iversity, in ad he worked und nd dition to coac er the legenda hing football. ry Knute Rock greatest coach T h e re ne, who is reg , es in college fo arded as one otball history. of the During his yea rs coaching fo otball at Bella 56 wins, 18 lo rmine, Heenan sses, and 5 tie compiled a rec s; he had unde He went on to ord of feated teams in become the a 1939 and 194 thletic directo the University 6. r and freshma of Santa Clara n football coa in 1947 and However, in 1 c h at eventually turn 965, Heenan re ed to real est turned to Bella the JV football a te . rm ine to teach h team. He retire istory and coa d in 1 9 7 6 . ch Heenan always considered his vocation to be young men. Fo that of a Cath r him, Bellarm olic educator ine was a utop love of working of ia th at allowed him with youth, ded to combine his ication to spirit football. He m ual life, and pa easured his w ssion for coach ealth in huma cherished the ing n te rms-his family admiration and and friends-an camaraderie fo and profession d und at Bellarm al colleagues. ine among stud ents

1948

. s over the football program title.

A young Bill Prentice take Catholic Athletic League the win ls Bel the , son In his first sea

Bill Prentice 1948-1951

lowing coach of Bellarmine, fol ad he the me ca be e tic he played as a In 1948, Bill Pren iversity. At Santa Clara, Un a ar Cl nta Sa m me fro n his graduatio ck Shaw (who later beca Bu h ac co ad he r de un r II, Prentice fullback and linebacke ers). During World War 49 o isc nc Fra n Sa the the head coach of seasons of football with o tw d ye pla o als d an s served with the Air Corp Air Force eleven. highly-regarded Fourth le in his opening tholic Athletic League tit Ca the n wo e tic e en Pr , At Bellarmine ed a high win percentag ain int ma e tic en Pr s, on yers such season. In his four seas coached outstanding pla He . tie 1 d an s, se los lan, with 26 wins, 11 Austin Dowling, Bill No i, cc rra Pe Jim , aff Pf as Bill McPherson, Dick and Jim Donovan. l insurance nt on to run a successfu we he d an 52 19 in ve ine He left Bellarm with Bellarmine, and ga se clo d ine ma re He William business in San Jose. in the region. Today, the es iti ar ch lic tho Ca ny es the mission generously to ma l Aid Endowment continu cia an Fin e tic en Pr who rie and Rose Ma ucation for young men ed ine rm lla Be a ng idi ints. of the school by prov due to financial constra d en att to le ab be t no would otherwise

1952 Coach John Hanna begins a brilliant career, finishing with a 170-58-9 record.

John Hanna kneels beside his assistant coaches, Ernie Zermeno and Bob Mazzuca.

John Hanna 1952-1976

Known for his fedora and his soft and unassuming demeanor, John Hanna led a 24-year athletic dynasty at Bellarmine. His teams compiled a record of 170 victories, 58 losses, and 9 ties. From 1952 to 1976, Hanna’s teams had 21 winning seasons, five without a loss. In fact, the four years that span from 1963 to 1966 mark one of the pinnacles of Bellarmine football, as the Bells produced a record of 36 wins and one loss, three undefeated seasons, four All-Americans, two nationallyranked teams (3rd, 19th) and, in 1965, the number one ranked defense in the nation. Though quiet and reserved, John always commanded respect. Terrible with names, Hanna had a nickname for just about everyone. He remembered each player, and related to him as a unique person. It mattered to him how his teams performed rather than the outcome of the game. Putting the team before self, playing to one’s potential, good sportsmanship, respect for the opponent and the officials, and keeping the game in perspective were constant themes during the football season.

Hanna also had great assistant coaches. Bill McPherson, who ended his coaching career as assistant head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, and Bob Mazzucca, who eventually ran a successful football program at DeAnza College, were Hanna’s defensive coordinators and assistants those four years.

1977 Coach Walt Arnold compiles the highest winning percentage of any Bellarmine coach at 82%.

Walt Arnold 1977-1983

Walt Arnold became the head coach of Bellarmine in 1977. He compiled the winning percentage of highest any Bellarmine coach at 82%. Arnold’s fifth seas was an especially excit on, 1981, ing year as the Bells ma rched to victory in footba first Central Coast Secti ll with the on (CCS) title of any sp ort in the school’s histor were ranked first in the y. The Bells state that year, which sta rted a string of seven co years where the Bells we nsecutive re in the CCS play-offs.

Arnold stressed that foo tball was a tough game and that success require His athletes knew him as d hard work. an imposing and competi tive coach. He was resp all because of his know ected by ledge of the game.

Arnold had a distinguish ed career as a football player. At Sacred Heart he was selected as Fullb High School, ack of the Year in 1957 . That summer, he was play football for the North selected to ern California All-Star tea m that was coached by colleague and predeces his future sor John Hanna. They be at the Southern California in front of 90,000 spectat tea m 32-0 ors in the LA Coliseum. Fro m there, Arnold had a su career at UC Berkeley. Hi ccessful s sophomore year, Cal wo n the Pac-8 title and the to play in the Rose Bowl n went on in 1959.

Off the field, his athletes remember him as a kin d person who went out to help others. At Bella of his way rmine today, he is often seen attending the Hall congratulate his friends of Fame to and athletes. eech.

79 season, locker room sp During the 19 ers a halftime ay pl s hi es Walt Arnold giv

1984 Coach Mike Janda becomes head coach and continues the legacy to this day. The Bells capture six CCS titles.

became the ool in Houston, Mike Janda Coming from a Jesuit sch 1984. in m gra pro ball ine foot head coach of the Bellarm

Mike Janda 1984-Present

Our head football coach since 1984, Mike Janda has had the longest coaching career in Bellarmine’s history. In a hard-fought win against Folsom High School in December, he became the winningest football coach in CCS history with 270 wins, 104 losses, and three ties. In 2014, he was named the Northern California football coach of the year by the California Coaches’ Association (CCA). This past season, Janda was named State Coach of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports. Under Janda’s direction, the Bells have won six of the 12 CCS finals they have appeared in, and have won 14 WCAL championships.

Humility and teamwork define Janda’s coaching style. He emphasizes that football cannot be about one person; it’s the whole team. To that end, any story about Coach Janda is incomplete without mentioning his assistant coaches: John Amarillas, Mike Henry, and Dan Burke. A Bell graduate of 1980, John Amarillas has been coaching for 31 seasons as defensive coordinator, offensive line coach, and strength and conditioning coach. John deserves much of the credit for the solid play of both offensive and defensive lines and as a source of inspiration to the athletes.

Janda played football for Strake Jesuit High School in Houston. He then went on to play football at the University of Texas. His head coach at UT, Darrell Royal, influenced Janda’s outlook as a coach - how to stay positive, coach with integrity, treat the players with respect, and compliment his opponents. After graduation, Janda went on to teach at Strake Jesuit, and through the Jesuits, discovered an opening at Bellarmine.

2016

Help Us Continue the Tradition 2016 Help Us Continue the Tradition

The renovation of the Ghiorso Football Field and re-dedicated Terry Ward Track will begin this summer. A new multipurpose scoreboard with a full LED screen with replay features, as well as track and field functionality, will be installed. The new turf replacement—an innovative CoolPlay infill system—is designed to provide a high performance, low temperature surface.

Be part of the legacy. Build for tomorrow.

Be part Field of the Renovation. legacy. Build for tomorrow.

Support the Athletic Support the Athletic Field Renovation.

Learn more about the project at www.bcp.org/fieldproject