The main message Mike Ivankovich wanted to send when asked about his retirement as head coach of the Acalanes football program was that wins meant far less to him than helping his players.
“Our goal is always to coach every single one of these kids like they were our own sons and to not run a result-based program,” said Ivankovic, a Ygnacio Valley graduate and former coach of the Warriors. “You only have one No. 1 priority. So if it’s winning, then the other priorities come after that. Ours is mentoring young people.”
Ivankovich used the plural “our” because he hopes to continue aiding the program while teaching physical education at Acalanes. But he is stepping down from the helm to spend more time with his kids, who will both be at Las Lomas next year.
“It has been an honor to work with Coach Ivankovich,” Acalanes athletic director Randy Takahashi said in a release by the school announcing the retirement. “He truly demonstrates what a coach and educator is by developing young men in the classroom and on the field.”
Ivankovich said he’s stuck with coaching as long as he’s been able.
“The way football is now, there are no days off,” he said. “I’ve gone seven years without a day off from football.”
His seven-year tenure as Dons head coach included six playoff apperances and one postseason victory.
“We were close many times to really breaking through. But this league … is just really difficult,” he said. “You have to have something else that you stand for beside winning all your games, because that’s not completely in your control. You control your effort and your attitude, the preparation and the manner in which you conduct yourself.”
Ivankovich was involved in the Ygnacio Valley program from 1991-2005, including as head coach from 2000-05. The Warriors won four league titles while he was there and captured North Coast Section crowns in 1999 and 2005.
“The championships were great, it was fun,” he said. “That was never what it was about for me. The reason I coach is to give kids what was given to me by my coaches.”
Atop his list of coaches who influenced him was the legendary Kent Robie, who coached him at Ygnacio Valley.
“My career was based in strong values and mentorship for young people,” Ivankovich said. “Whatever we accomplished on the field was going to be a result of how well we did accomplishing those goals. I feel fortunate to be able to coach all the guys I coached at Ygnacio Valley, and I feel fortunate to be able to coach all these guys here (at Acalanes). I made a lot of the great relationships that made it all meaningful.”
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