How many rejection letters from the same high school does it take for a football coach to conclude the school doesn’t want to hire you?
Jose Razo, the head football coach at unbeaten Marshall High, applied for the Barristers’ head coaching position in 2019 and 2022, only to be turned down. You’d think that the Marshall grad had gotten the message that somebody didn’t think he could be head coach.
Instead of abandoning a program he had been with since playing linebacker at there since he was 15 years old, he decided to remain as an assistant coach.
“It was never personal for me,” he said. “It was, ‘I’m going to stay and help the kids.”’
When the job opened again in 2025 and Razo interviewed for a third time he told himself, “It’s now or never.”
Razo finally received an email informing him he was being promoted to head coach after 18 years serving as an assistant. Talk about being patient. Talk about having no ego. Talk about complete loyalty to a school.
“He stuck it out for the kids and the program,” said Eagle Rock coach Andy Moran, who coached Razo at Marshall in 2005 and 2006.
Incredibly, it’s Moran and Eagle Rock standing in the way on Friday night trying to prevent Marshall from going 10-0 in the regular season. Moran, who is a mentor for Razo, has never lost to Marshall since leaving in 2012.
Razo remembers asking Moran what he should do after being turned down twice. “They didn’t give it to you because they already have you,” Moran told him.
Said Razo: “I had to prove myself to them.”
Standout quarterback Nathaniel Cadet said every day Razo, 37, passes along insights and offers inspiration to players
“Coach Razo’s loyalty is unmatched,” he said. “He’s a great role model, and his commitment to the team makes players want to play under him. He’s a good father and brings his son to the games. He got a college education, and I believe he comes from a similar background to a lot of our players, so he sets a great example for us.”
Marshall is a school that attracts students from many little communities, but the football team’s success has brought everyone together to form a large community on Friday nights.
Razo deserves a standing ovation for his commitment to the school and his players. There’s not many coaches who would have stuck around when twice told “we’re going in a different direction.”
Rejection usually makes people angry and is motivation to run away.
Razo was different. He stayed, kept teaching and coaching, and waited for his alma mater to give him a chance to lead.
What a lesson of perseverance and patience to pass along to his players.
Marshall always had its coach nearby. Someone just needed to open their eyes. Thankfully, Razo put faith in himself that someone would recognize his talents.
Win or lose on Friday, Razo has proven he deserves to be a head coach.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: latimes.com
