Nine years ago, Jon Michael Porras’ dreams of winning a Central
Coast Section championship ended when Bellarmine Prep scored in the
closing seconds to beat Live Oak in a first-round playoff game.
Nine years ago, Jon Michael Porras’ dreams of winning a Central Coast Section championship ended when Bellarmine Prep scored in the closing seconds to beat Live Oak in a first-round playoff game.
Now Porras will try to recapture that dream of winning a CCS title as a coach. The 1998 graduate of Live Oak will take over the reins of the Acorns football program, replacing Rick Booth, who stepped down recently and will remain on staff as defensive coordinator.
“Knowing the history of Live Oak, it’s something I want to bring back,” Porras said. “It’s very important for me because I missed out on the chance to win a CCS title (as a player).”
Booth, who spent two years as head coach, contemplated resigning after the passing of his father in February and eventually decided to step down.
“My dad was my best friend and it was one of those situations that I didn’t want to have to be there everyday like you do as a head coach,” said Booth, who also noted that his son is getting married in October and as a head coach he would feel uncomfortable having to miss time for that. “My wife and I believe that things happen for a reason and I believe this is a good thing.”
Porras credits Booth for helping steer him into coaching. Both men recall an incident four years ago when Booth asked Porras if he had an interest in ever being a head coach. It was the first time Porras had ever thought about it, but over the past few years his passion for the profession has grown.
“The more I got into coaching, the more I loved it,” Porras said.
After graduating from Live Oak, Porras attended Gavilan College and Upper Iowa University, a Division II school. His coaching career began as the varsity wide receivers coach in 2003 and he spent the past two seasons as the junior varsity head coach. The Acorns JVs went 6-2-2 last season.
Porras is excited to have two former Acorn head coaches – Booth and offensive coordinator Glen Webb – on his staff.
“They’re two of the best resources that any coach could have because they’ve been there,” Porras said. “They’re both really humble guys and they’ll tell you their mistakes. They’ve been so supportive over the years. If I didn’t have those two guys there, it’d be really difficult.”
Booth told Porras that if he had any concerns with him remaining on the staff that he would stop coaching.
“I told him up front, ‘If your uncomfortable with me on the staff, I do not have to coach,'” Booth said. “But he told me, ‘I want you to be a part of it.’ So that was a good thing. He’ll do a fine job, he’s disciplined. I just hope we won’t skip a beat.”
Porras considers himself a tough, but fair coach. He’s getting ready for the start of spring football in two weeks and is excited about a full-contact camp the team will attend at Willamette University in Salem, Ore., at the end of June.
The Bearcats coach, Mark Speckman, is considered one of the foremost authorities on the fly offense, a system that Live Oak has used in the past and Porras plans on implementing again.
“That’s something we used to run and we want to bring it back,” he said. “It’s a good way to start summer off with a bang.”
Athletic director Mark Cummins likes the fact that Porras has been a part of the Live Oak program.
“Jon Michael will do a great job continuing our great tradition of producing quality student-athletes,” Cummins said. “He knows what it takes because he was one of them. He will also have a great mentor to work with in Rick, who has a lot of experience.”
