First-year assistant coach Manny Fernandez has taken over as
head coach of the Live Oak High wrestling team with the resignation
of Ron Nichols.
First-year assistant coach Manny Fernandez has taken over as head coach of the Live Oak High wrestling team with the resignation of Ron Nichols.
According to team sources, Nichols effect-ively stepped down as head coach of the wrestling program in December because of family and time conflicts.
Fernandez and assistant coach Kevin Courtney had been running the team since then.
Fernandez, a well-known former pro wrestler who also wrestled competitively in college, said he doesn’t necessarily regard himself as the head coach and doesn’t know how long he plans to stay with the program but is enthused by the opportunity to coach the kids on the team.
“I see it as I get the pleasure of working with and teaching great young people, teaching them it’s better than being out on the street gangbanging,” Fernandez said. “The program seems to be on the right track.”
Fernandez, 49, grew up in San Jose and graduated from Lincoln High before serving in the military in the mid1970s.
In addition, to coaching high school wrestling, Fernandez coaches aspiring ultimate fighters and pro wrestlers in his Morgan Hill studio.
