Come September, a familiar face will be missing from the sidelines at Bonita Vista High football games. After 39 years of coaching and 19 years at the helm of Bonita Vista High’s varsity football program, Carl Parrick has decided to step down. He leaves behind a solid record of 193-127-7 amassed over 30 seasons at the varsity level, first at Southwest High and then at BVHS.
“I needed a change,” Parrick said. “I got a little stagnant I think. It wasn’t that I lost my enthusiasm. I still love to coach and if the right situation comes up I probably would (go back to it), but I am taking (at least) a year off. I plan to get more involved in the two car clubs that I am in and I plan to go to Florida in March to visit some old friends, see some Nationals exhibition games and take some other trips. I am also looking for a’67 Mustang Fastback or a ’68 Barracuda Fastback that I can completely rebuild.”
This is not the first time that Parrick has set a new course.
“ I left Southwest High in February 1992 because (then like now) I needed a change,” he said. “When the Bonita Vista opportunity came up and (former principal) Dr. (Jeff) Schaeffer wanted me here, it (turned out to be) a great experience. I had 19 wonderful years (at BVHS), but the timing seemed right for me now to leave.”
During Parrick’s tenure he helped to transform Bonita Vista’s struggling program into a contender. The Barons captured several league banners along the way. And each year except the final one produced more regular season wins than losses, but winning wasn’t the only thing that Parrick was concerned with.
“Everybody wants to win including me, but to me it is more important that these kids get a good education,” he said. “We had 24 kids on the all-academic team this year. We always did well with that and we also sent a lot of kids out with football scholarships.”
In 17 of his 19 seasons at BVHS, the team enjoyed educational tours. The places the team visited included Washington D.C., Hawaii, Cuba and the Pacific Northwest. When the Barons were not training for their road games, they would be visiting museums and battlefields and learning about each area’s history.
One thing Parrick is not worried about is the future of BVHs football program. He believes it is in capable hands with long-time assistant coach Greg Raby stepping up to fill the void.
“Greg has been coaching with me for 30 years and I think he will do a fine job,” Parrick said. “He is a great motivator and he knows a lot about football. We left him with 31 of the 45 kids returning and a very good junior varsity team. I am also leaving Greg with an awesome booster board headed by Theresa Camacho.”
Parrick leaves with few regrets and lots of positive memories of the coaches he worked with and the many players that he coached.
“I will miss my long lasting friendships and working with the kids the most,” he said.
