Coach Osaar Rasshan garners CIF SJS Coach of the Year Honors

Our very own head football coach, Osaar Rasshan, was recently awarded the San Joaquin League Varsity Coach of the Year award. Coach O piloted the Southlands football program this season into becoming a team that was a force to be reckoned with.

Indeed, the football team had quite the year. After overcoming an unusual amount of adversity this season, the Eagles were able to rally to an 8-2 record and finish right on the doorstep of the playoffs. But outside of the accomplishments on the field, Coach O’s big take-away was the relationships and team culture he and his staff built with his players. He has been instrumental in bringing the iconic #BuyIn hashtag to prominence within the athletics department. It has become a rallying point to emphasize “buying in” to the idea that the team is a family.

“I love them. That’s one of the biggest things I’m thankful for,” he said. “It really is a blessing because it’s just been, by far, the most difficult football season I’ve ever been a part of.”

Coach O had nothing but praise for how the Eagles carried on through some rocky parts of an otherwise outstanding season. They recorded the greatest football season in school history. But besides the records, the accomplishments, and the individual awards, Coach O always puts his players, first.

“I’m glad that as a coaching staff we’ve been able to be a great example to them. And I hope that we’ve planted seeds that they’ll be able to take on and pass to their kids and be examples as husbands. I think if God had asked at the beginning of the year, ‘Would you be okay with going 8-2 and not making the playoffs, coming from 1-9?’, I think almost everyone would say yes,” stated Coach O.

Although the team barely missed the playoffs, it’s been a season to remember for Southlands and Coach O.

“It’s kind of like a hug from God because it wasn’t expected. But when it did happen, I was extremely, extremely thankful.”

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We are extremely proud of our coach and our Eagles for a fantastic season. Congratulations!