Helix history starts with coaching elite
- Updated: October 1, 2020
SAN DIEGO – The readers of East County Sports often
ask how we obtain our historical information. Much is
from our own records, including archives on our own
website, but there are other sources.
The main source of both sports data and interesting
stories from the past are courtesy of Rick Smith, a
former high school sports writer for the old Evening
Tribune newspaper. Smith currently operates the San
Diego Prep Sports History website, found at:
Smith’s current lead story lists the top football coaches
in county history (since 1898; the CIF-San Diego Section
was not formed until 1960) by winning percentage.
Among the top 15 coaches, an unbelievable four have
spent most or all of their head coaching careers at
Helix High School.
Included is the all-time leader (by percentage) in
Gordon Wood, who captured 85.6percent of his ballgames
(46-6-0 record) over his four seasons guiding the
Highlanders.
Other Scotties mentors on the list include: current
coach Robbie Ownes at No. 5 (42-11-2, .782); No. 9 Troy
Starr(91-31-1, .744), who now leads the program at Mount
Miguel; and No. 14 Jim Arnaiz (213-77-11, .726 over 26
campaigns).
The other East County coach on the Top 20 list is Joel
Allen, who just resigned following 11 years at The
Bishop’s School. The former Christian high quarterback
posted a .739 win percentage (100-35-1) in 11 seasons
with the Knights.
Others close are No. 22 Matt Oliver, Christian (
172-73-3, .700); and No. 25 Paul Wargo, Granite Hills
(72-31-2, .692).
Please check out Smith’s website for further information,
featuring football, baseball and track (a section on
basketball is in development).
— San Diego County all-time football coach leaders by
winning percentage:
NAME SCHOOL YEARS W- L-T PCT
Gordon Wood Helix 4 46- 6 884 Chet Devore Chula Vista 5 44- 7-1 .856 Duane Maley San Diego 12 97-19-3 .828 Hobbs Adams San Diego 6 42-11-2 .782 Robbie Owens Helix 4 42-12 .778 John Carroll Oceanside 26 248-75-6 .763 Birt Slater Kearny 18 134-41-9 .753 George Ohnosorgen Chula Vista 12 103-33-7 .7447 Troy Starr Helix,MtMiguel 10 91-31-1 .7439 Dick Huddleston La Jolla 8 70-24-1 .742 Rick Jackson Madison 16 141-49-1 .741 Joel Allen The Bishop’s 11 100-35-1 .739 Jeff Hutzler LJ Country Day 12 101-37 .732 Jim Arnaiz Helix 26 213-77-11 .726 Glenn Forsythe Ramona 8 50-19 .725
— San Diego County all-time football coach leaders by
total victories:
NAME YEARS W- L-T PCT Rob Gilster 1989-2019 (31) 230-129-5 .639 Ron Hamamoto 1985-2019 (34) 228-159-4 .588 Sean Doyle 1996-2019 (24) 204-94 .685 *Matt Oliver 1999-2019 (20) 172-73-3 .700 Chris Hauser 2000-2019 (20) 168-74-2 .693 Mike Hastings 1998-2019 (22) 148-105 .584 Rick Jackson 2004-2019 (16) 141-49-1 .741 Tom Karlo 2 schools (15) 108-65-2 .623 Joel Allen 2009-2019 (11) 100-35-1 .739 Damon Baldwin 2005-2019 (15) 100-69-1 .591
*Coaches 20 seasons over a 21-year period.
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