Sometimes it seems a lifetime ago, but there was a long stretch of time when a big chunk of my brain was devoted to a big but fairly specific topic:
High school football in San Bernardino County.
There was nothing bigger, in that part of the sports world. Everything else was somewhere down the line. Professionals, colleges, any other prep sport. We were about prep football, and I made it my business to know it and cover it as thoroughly as possible. Great stories, great personalities, great teams.
And we could not even begin to discuss prep football in that time and place without talking about … Dick Bruich.
I knew he stopped coaching after the 2008 season.
(I wrote a massively long retrospective on his career, off the top of my head, while sitting in a 23rd-floor apartment in Hong Kong late in 2008 that I have never published, and probably never will. Among other things, I suggested he was the single biggest newsmaker in San Bernardino County for a 32-year stretch from 1977-2008. Including politicians, celebrities, athletes. Everyone.)
But I didn’t know he gave up teaching all together at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
And what does he do, these days?
This story in the Riverside Press Enterprise brings us up to date. At least the one day a week that Dick Bruich volunteers at Operation SafeHouse, described as a “shelter for troubled teens.”
Am I surprised that Dick Bruich does this?
Thirty years ago, 20 years ago, it would have stunned me.
Ten years ago … no.
This is the same guy he always was, but not.
Early in his career he was … oh, what is the technical term? … a maniac as head coach of the Fontana High School football team. We probably could find a generation of Fontana Steelers who may have loved playing for him but also were scared to death of him. The shouting. The insults. The blue language. The “we ain’t scared a nothin'” world of Fontana Steelers football.
Back when he was trying to figure out how to win the Citrus Belt League, and then the CIF-Southern Section title, and then one of those “national” titles newspapers and (later) websites began bestowing … the idea that he would be shooting baskets in his spare time with troubled teens might have seemed ludicrous. Unless they were 6-3, 225 and had some eligibility left.
The Dick Bruich we saw at the end of his 31 seasons of running varsity football programs (at Fontana, and then at Kaiser) … was not the same wild man some of us knew back in the 1970s. The one who once told my boss at the paper that I was not welcome in the city of Fontana or at any of the school’s games after I covered a Fontana-San Gorgonio game that ended in what I could only call a riot. (And did.)
But, things change. He turned 40, then 50. He had some life issues. Health stuff, like a heart procedure in the middle of a season a few years back. Grandchildren.
He chilled out. By the end of his career, he was telling me (in the same raspy voice he destroyed at least three decades ago)Â about the “three types of learners” … or was it four?
He had become a model educator, patient and at peace with himself. I remember him telling me that, when he was young, he wanted to play against football teams coached by “guys with golf clubs in their trunk.” And then adding, “now I’m one of those guys.” He bought a home on a golf course in Riverside.
So the Dick Bruich I knew at the end … it makes perfect sense that he would go to a home and work with teens. That is what he did throughout his professional life. He knows a bit about teenagers.
An aside: No one can underestimate the role of a football coach in a kid’s life. (All but the very worst coaches.) Prep football is a coming-of-age experience for many American boys, and a group thing and a bonding thing. It is as close to the military as most kids will get, in this age of a volunteer military, and the idea of being part of something bigger than any one individual … well, it can be powerful stuff. Dealing with discomfort or pain, exhaustion or fear. Working as a unit. Not much like it, short of the Marines or Army.
That time with a football coach almost inevitably shapes a kid’s character. Or, at the least, becomes some of his keenest memories. For the scrubs as well as the stars.
(And in Bruich’s case, this could apply to all the girls softball teams he coached, too.)
Now, he’s described as a guy with a “passion for fine wines” — an admission that probably would have drawn hoots of derision in the Fontana of the steel mill days.
I’m proud of him. Not that he needs any validation from me. He was a a rough-around-the-edges (like, sandpaper-rough) guy at the start of his career who would do almost anything to win. But before it was over, well, he was a guy with golf clubs in his trunk talking about the 3-4 ways kids learn.
Those teens at the shelter … they’ve had some bad luck in their lives. But they’ve caught a big break in having around Dick Bruich, retiree … but coach for life.
10 responses so far ↓
1 dick bruich // Mar 4, 2010 at 3:30 PM
The fact that I read your blog often and really enjoy it.I have learned much from it about parts of the world I will probably never visit.Seeing that you seem to be very happy in your life.Especially now that you are doing what you really love working for a newspaper.And to think that would take the time to wrie something about me says something about our relationship.What ? who knows but I like to think of you as a friend and all I can says is thanks and you are correct I have mellowed
2 Chuck Hickey // Mar 4, 2010 at 4:04 PM
Great analysis. No doubt about it, as a kid growing up in the Steel City in the 1970s and 1980s, Dick Bruich was a larger-than-life figure. Revered by those who played for him — and those who didn’t.
One of my biggest regrets was not playing for him, to be a part of what he built, but also what he could TEACH. Scared? Probably. Many probably were. But, as he says, he’s mellowed, for better or worse.
I saw the story this morning and knew he was doing it, but not to the extent he is. I, too, am very happy for him.
What he meant to that school, to that city, will never be duplicated. He gave Fontana an identity, that the blue-collar town wasn’t going to put up with anyone’s crap. That they were tough. Whether it be the “riot” against San G. “The Slap” after penalties. Kicking Redlands’ ass year after year after year. And lining the sideline with alumni for the infamous 1989 semifinal against the OCQs from Edison and winning probably the greatest high school football game in county history (coming from 28-7 down).
I miss going home at Thanksgiving and seeing him on the sidelines for a CIF quarterfinal game, along with all of the other old-time Fontana people. But I’m definitely happy for what he has — and what he continues to give.
3 Nate Ryan // Mar 6, 2010 at 10:09 AM
My second assignment — ever — as a meek intern at the San Bernardino County Sun in September 1993 was being sent to Fohi to ask why the Steelers were 0-2 for the first time since, like, 1971.
Needless to say, I was a little intimidated. The reporting required calling Fontana HS to ask Dick Bruich for 1) permission to talk to his players; 2) why his team lost its first two games of the season in a generation.
Upon identifying myself (and not hearing a familiar name such as Nick Leyva, Dan Evans, et al), I think he thought it was some sort of prank. “You don’t write for them!” he barked. Then I finally convinced him I was a scared college kid on his first college football assignment.
He then grew sympathetic and helpful.
“So you work for Oberjuerge? Yeah, we have our differences. But I respect that guy.”
Bruich gave me 10 good minutes on the phone and then personally lined up three of his players when I went to the school that afternoon.
Ever since, I’ve been fascinated with S.B. County football and loved tapping into PaulO’s vast breadth of knowledge whether thru reading his stories or listening to him during late night conversations with his decompressing copy desk after those absurdly (in a good way) frenzied Friday nights.
Hearing the tales of Bruich, John Tyree, Tom Hoak and Don Markham turned a SoCal transplant into an improbable prep football fan.
That’s solely because of guys such as Dick Bruich and PaulO. Their passion for participating in the sport (in Bruich’s case) and framing it in the context of why it mattered so much for the region (in PaulO’s) was infectious, and I still miss those Friday nights nearly 12 years after leaving Berdoo. Always will.
4 Nate Ryan // Mar 6, 2010 at 10:16 AM
Of course, I meant “prep football” in that third graf above. Though PaulO was gracious enough to send a 20-year-old to USC (by himself) and UCLA, too.
5 anonymous // Nov 19, 2010 at 1:52 PM
I have a Coach Bruich story that took place at his first coaching assignment-St. Paul High. I was in my sophomore year (1970) and was for the first time going out for football for my upcoming junior year.
It wasn’t until I went to St. Paul did I find out about what a fine football team/program they had. In 1968 my freshman year, they were state champs and ranked #2 in the nation. I was so impressed and always one who played hard at everything I thought I may have a chance at making the team.
Being a very fast runner and sandlot football champ, I thought I’d be a good candidate for flanker back. Along comes spring training and I was up against 8 others vying for the position. My one advantage was that I was the fastest one of the candidates. I was up against freshman and sophomore players and lacked their experience.
Receivers worked out with Coach Bruich. I thought my speed would launch me into instant stardom. Coach Bruich had other thoughts. I remember trying to run pass patterns faster than anyone else then getting passes from Bruich behind my back, on the ground, anywhere but close to where I could catch it. The other guys mostly got good passes from coach. I felt dejected. I wanted to quit.
Then, one afternoon coach was screaming at me, he wasn’t ever going to throw me a good pass until I learned how to run the basic out pattern as he demonstrated. He walked me through the pattern, step by step. He screamed at me all the way, “This is where I want your foot.” And then again, “This is where I want your foot”. He marked the entire pattern that way screaming at me the whole way.
Next, I ran the pattern. This time much slower than my previous efforts because I was watching every step to be sure that I placed my feet where coach said. I remember thinking how could running a pass pattern looking at the ground, watching one’s feet was advantageous to a receiver. Next thing I did was turn to catch the pass that hit me right square in the face. It bloodied my nose.
Well there was general laughter from my co-candidates. My dejection was at an all time low. Then coach speaks up and says, “For all those who are laughing at *****, all of you, you’re chasing him for the position”.
It was one of the finest compliments I ever received and from someone as accomplished as coach; something I cherish. Unfortunately, due to financial family hardship, I left St. Paul and went to public school my junior and senior years.
6 Andrew Sneed // Feb 28, 2011 at 3:10 AM
Being a former player of the tyree/bruich years i really dont think some coaches know the affect they have on the lives of the young people the come in contact with.But i know that being around coach B made me pay attention to things ,that where needed later in life. and how to conduct yourself when things don’t go according to plan…..mine was never fear of them …more of respect of the way they made me bring the talent out of me.the personal relationship that was cemented between coach B ,and myself ,let me know that some of the same things that used to make me say hmmmmm is still being delivered.
7 Andrew Sneed // Feb 28, 2011 at 3:14 AM
my grandson would like to know how 2 obtain 1976/1977 fohi steeler football photos from the herald news/sun telegram……an archive site would be most helpful ….thx
8 Andrew Sneed // Feb 28, 2011 at 3:19 AM
Good luck and, God bless over there
9 anonymous // Aug 5, 2012 at 1:41 PM
Coach Dick Bruich
Best Coach Ever, Need I SAY MOORE
10 Elizabeth Hardy // Oct 4, 2013 at 5:55 PM
My husband Mark Hardy play for Coach Bruich from 1980-1983. I never met Coach Bruich but I feel like I know him. Thirty years later he is still one of the most influential men in my husband’s life. Today my husband is in top level management for a large company, he credits Coach Bruich for teaching him leadership. He is also a Corona Chargers Football coach, again, another influence from Coach Bruich. I hope some day I am lucky enough to meet the man. I would be honored. PS…Coach Bruich, if you ever read this, Mark does keep golf clubs in his trunk;-)
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