Football is a time honored tradition at El Camino.

With a record of 208-105-1 coach John Featherstone has the highest winning percentage of any active coach in the Southern Section of California. With a winning record like that Featherstone and his coaching staff work hard to keep that winning tradition going.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else. I love coaching, I love the game of football (and) I love teaching as much as I do coaching.” Featherstone said.

The EC football program is one of the most successful junior college programs in the state. Featherstone who played for EC for two years came back to coach in 1985 and over the years has brought in former players to come back and coach beside him.

Assistant head coach and Offensive Coordinator Gene Engle (1975-76), co-offensive coordinator Dan Speltz (85-87), defensive coordinator Andrew Alvillar (91-92), running back coach Ryan Winkler (94-95), defensive line coach Ken Talanoa (91-92), special teams coach Joe Houston(05-06) and wide receiver coach Kevin Norell (2010) have all been Warriors and have come back to impart wisdom on a new batch of players.

Their goal not only to win games but to instill values that will be with the players for the rest of their lives.

“My experience here set the foundation for the rest of my life.” Joe Houston, special teams coach said. “I want to pursue coaching in my own career and this was the perfect platform for me to do that.”

The alumni coaching staff all know what its like to play for Featherstone and Engle. With that in mind they understand what it takes to be successful in the classroom as well as on the field. Through their experience the coaches teach the players the importance of being successful student athletes.

” I played for coach Engle and coach Featherstone, it always was about competition and competing,” Speltz said. “I think I inherited that from them; putting in the work ethic and the wanting to succeed out on the field and in the classroom.”

Featherstone has not only led former alumni into careers as coaches but he also has led over a dozen players into the professional football careers like Mike Harris defensive back for the “Jacksonville Jaguars”, and Matt Simms quarter back for the “New York Jets” and Steve Sarkisian who is currently the head coach for the “USC Trojans”.

The legacy of the EC football program is not only about the winning put it has changed the lives of dozens of players and inspired them pursue their dreams and come back and coach.

“Every morning when I wake up I’ve always looked forward to to going to work at El Camino,” Featherstone said. “Its been a wonderful ride (for the) last 29 years, its gone fast but I have no regrets.