The San Francisco 49ers Charlie Wedemeyer Memorial Coach of the Week award presented by the California National Guard for week nine goes to Jay Oca from South San Francisco High School in San Francisco, Ca.
Coach Oca has been leading his Warriors with commanding stride as South San Francisco High's newly appointed head varsity football coach. Although new to the leading role, Coach Oca is a seasoned Warrior who had served as the team's offensive coordinator since 2008. Thankful for the support and guidance of previous head coach Frank Moro, Coach Oca takes the reigns of the South City Warriors with the full intention of clutching the Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division Championship title once more.
The South City Warriors seemed to have a shaky start to their season, opening with several consecutive losses in preseason as well as their league opener. Appearing as though the bridge to a championship title was nearly out of reach, the Warriors turned their trailing streak into an unstoppable storm as they pushed through the season with determination. The Warriors kept the momentum going while pushing for a play-off spot in their Thursday league matchup against the Hillsdale Knights. South City and Hillsdale battled back and forth throughout the first half, leaving the Warriors trailing 13-6 at the break. Coming out to the second half with fortitude, the Warriors fought their way through to the fourth quarter for a 25-13 victory in the end.
"As a coaching staff, we made our practices the week before very intense," explains Oca, "We set them up to really overcome the difficult stuff as a team and work hard for results. I think that's what translated into this game, they fought for that winning outcome and I'm proud of our guys."
Coach Oca and his staff recognize that their young men face a great deal of adversity provided by their surroundings. Utilizing the football program to demonstrate respect, sacrifice and mental toughness, Oca hopes to instill values in his players that they can take beyond their high school and football careers. In doing this, Oca implements his athletes in community engagement events as a team so that they also experience offering their most valuable asset: their time to others. Most recently, the team volunteered their time at a park clean up and tree plant in their community, only to follow with an intense same-day practice to prepare for an upcoming rivalry game.
With inspiration derived from his wife Nerissa and two son's Jerin and Jovan, Coach Jay Oca is ready to take South San Francisco program into its new era and on to the championship!
For being named Coach of the Week, Coach Jay Oca and the South San Francisco High School football program will receive $1,000 grant from the 49ers Foundation. Coach Oca will also be featured on Cal-Hi sports and receive two tickets to a 49ers home game where he will be recognized on the field prior to kick-off. In the weeks leading up to the on-field recognition, Coach Oca will be invited to visit the 49ers SAP Performance Facility in Santa Clara to watch a private practice and receive a certificate from 49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh.
Congratulations Coach Jay Oca and the Warriors!
