Mike Giovando Takes Over as Head Coach at Shadow Mountain.
Shadow Mountain has been an underdog in high school football for the past five years, with only 12 wins in five seasons. Shadow Mountain’s football program was in need of a complete change, so Mike Giovando was hired as the new head coach. Coach Giovando has 17 years of both High School and College coaching experience. He is currently a quarterback instructor both locally and nationally and trains close to 60 quarterbacks. As an offensive coordinator, he’s helped guide teams like Carl Hayden, Saguaro, and Desert Mountain to play offs. Giovando’s successes as an offensive coordinator is undisputed, and now is his opportunity to prove his ability as a head coach. Giovando isn’t the only new coach at Shadow Mountain, in-fact the program has all new football coaches, and all have won at every program they have been at. This new coaching staff not only brings experience, they are building confidence in their players. The players are physically stronger, and believe things will be different from a mental standpoint. The biggest change you will see with the Matadors, is a new attitude and thought process. These athletes are not involved in football, they are committed. In the past Shadow Mountain had many athletes transfer to schools with a winning football program. Parents and players want to go where they can win and be successful. Giovando’s connection to youth football leagues and his reputation training quartebacks, will likely bring a lot of exposure to Shadow Mountain. The new football program has already attracted athletes to Shadow Mountain. Shadow Mountain Matadors Football Website: www.matadorfootball.org Thank you for visiting Best of Both Worlds Az.
The offense is new, the defense is new, nothing is the same.
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35 Responses to “Mike Giovando Takes Over as Head Coach at Shadow Mountain.”
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Total BS. Shadow has had a total of 2, count ‘em 2 players leave the program to play elsewhere, one to Paradise Valley, 1 to Chapparal. The SMHS weight training program has been as good as any in the state, winning weightlifting competitions and big man challenges the past 4 years. The previous Head coach WAS NOT fired, he resigned, so Gio was not brought in to institute a complete change, and why did he get the job in the first place? Probably because his good friend and former coaching buddy at Saguaro (Ron Safcik) is the Shadow Mountain Athletic Director. If you’re gonna report things as fact, maybe you should check your facts!!!
Dear Joe Blow,
Thank you for your comment.
I am not exactly sure what Shadow Mountains weight lifting program has to do with this post, but thank you for sharing. I would like to clarify that it was never stated or implied that the former coach was fired. It also was never stated that Coach Gio was brought in to replace anyone.
However, the football program was in need of a change. Shadow Mountain wasn’t winning games and Coach Gio has made changes, correct me if I am wrong. I wasn’t aware of the 2 athletes that transferred out of Shadow Mountain to Chapparal and PV. I am not surprised that a football player would transfer to Chapparel, many do, from all over. As far as the student that left the program to play at PV……………. well check out the score. Shadow Mountains JV team beat Paradise Valley 41 -7 .
http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=JVTROJANFOOTBALL&s=football&p=home&t=c
Nothing against PV, I went there myself.
I am not interested in the politics of things. However many athletes hope that the sport they play will get them into a good University, and High School coaches play a part in that. It’s all about the kids, not the politics of the program.
In your original post you spoke of players now being “physically stronger”, thats where the weight lifting came in, the 2 players that transferred to Chap and PV? The Chap player is now at Arcadia, and the PV player is the varsity starting running back, so…what does the JV score have to do with anything? The seniors at Shadow Mountain beat PV as freshman and as Sophmores (JV), and also beat Saguaro as Sophmores (JV) and finsihed both seasons with 5-3 records. In your article you also state “Shadow Mountain’s football program was in need of a complete change, so Mike Giovando was hired as the new head coach”, no implications in that statement is there?
And to say that “many athletes hope that the sport they play will get them into a good University, and High School coaches play a part in that. It’s all about the kids, not the politics of the program” How about this–in the past 4 years Shadow has placed 4 players in Division 1 college football programs-Doug Zismann (UNLV), Marcus Santa Cruz (Baylor), Mitch Farney (Hawaii) and Tyler Juede (Army), as well as others in smaller college programs-Sam Hefner, Mike McLearan, Bryce Mallette, Johnny Harlan, Ryan Shaw and others, if aspiring to play college football is the justification for transferring to PV—how many Division 1 players have come from PV in recent history? Danny Compton (Air Force) Ebo Makinde (Boise) and Kevin Spain come to mind. No more than from SMHS.
And to say that Gio “made changes” —–in your words “check out the score” Notre Dame 34 Shadow Mountain 27.
“check out the score”——–Queen Creek 34 Shadow Mountain 14.
Big Changes!!!
I believe this story was done to announce the new Shadow Mtn head coach giving readers some basic background information. I did not get the impression that it was in anyway intended to start conflict reguarding the past coach. I think Joe Blow needs to take a chill pill. My nephew plays JV and has been excited about the new season and it shows.
I’m glad that your nephew is excited, hopefully he will be successful there and have a good HS experience.
However, where I have a problem with the article specifically is by stating that SM has “been an underdog for the past 5 years” and then reporting the record for the past 5 years. It just so happens that the last head coach was there for, take a guess……..the past 5 years. SM has been an underdog for far longer than the past 5 years, so to single out that time frame is where the problem lies. SM has played in only 1 playoff game in the past 24 years, and has won only 2 homecoming games in the last 21 years, Both times have been within the past 5 years. 2006 Playoff game vs Centennial and 2006 Homecoming vs Desert Mountain and 2009 Homecoming vs Verrado.
So, maybe the author should have done a bit of background work to insure accuracy in the reporting. And not just have believed the bill of goods being sold by the AD and new coaches.
Buck Up – Buckaroo.
I feel like you are reading way to much into things. It was my intention to write a light post about the new coach at Shadow Mountain. I never even mentioned the former coach. I don’t think anything was said that wasn’t accurate. I am not interested in writing about the entire history of Shadow Mountain football. I’m not sure how you know so much. Give me a break, I am not trying to be an investigative reporter. It sounds like you have something against Shadow Mountain, or their AD. Do you have something personal against the new coach? In your comments you even bad mouth the players and the parents. It seems strange that you are so worked up over this post, it’s not like we are talking about illegal immigration or something. So ……… my question is ” who took a dump in your Wheaties ?”
Dear Joe Blow,
You seem to have a lot of knowledge of the past 5 years, and you’re talking up the former coach like he accomplished something ? The “weight room” was 3 benches for bench press under the bleachers. Shadow was in need of not just a new coach, a whole new program. This post had nothing to do with the former coach, you seem to take things way out of concept. It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if you were the former coach. Although varsity did lose to Notre Dame and Queen Creek, both are elite teams with much winning experience. Keep watching the scoreboard, it will change.
First off, I am NOT the former coach, just someone with knowledge of the situation.
When is the last time you saw the weight room at Shadow? When the former HC took over, the weight room was exactly as you described, 3 benchs under the bleachers, he told the AD at the time that wasn’t gonna work, so the weight room was moved into the building with the gym, and a great deal of money was spent for equipment for the weight room, including squat racks, benchs and thousands of pounds of free weights. He then began to lobby the AD, Administration and district for a new weight room, somewhere in the neighborhood of $800,000 was spent to build a new weight room/coaches office/classroom on campus near the girls softball field, it was completed a year and a half ago, so, can you also please, get the correct info before you post.
I agree that the 2 losses this year were to quality opponents, as is the next–Cactus Shadows, but these are the same teams that SMHS played last year, and as for previous years? How about Saguaro, Chapparal, Cactus Shadows, McClintock, Apache Junction, Paradise Valley–that was the Region opponents for 2 years, and prior to that SMHS played Brophy, St Marys, Tucson Sunnyside, PV etc, so losing to quality opponents is nothing new.
Its gonna take a LOT more than a new HC and staff at Shadow to create a winning football team, its gonna take a commitment from players (Don’t work hard–somehow feel entitled to win), parents (extremly demanding and critical-but thats probably all schools these days), School admin (4 ADs in past 4 years Connors, Walk, Kras, Safcik) as well as the coaches.
Best of both worlds, thanks for writing about the new head Football Coach at Shadow Mountain High School. I am not going to hide behind a fictious name nor blast any one person. The change at Shadow Mountain is a welcomed change. A needed change. Nothing wrong with change. Mike and his coaching staff is an asset to the Shadow Mountain Football program as it has been to all the other programs they have been involved in. I am speaking for me and no one else. I have an athletes on the team. He wasn’t very happy when he heard the old coaching staff was not coming back. I can honestly say , he has grown more (physically in the weight room) in three months then he has in three years at Shadow. His football knowledge, skills, and attitude toward football have also matured in the past 6 months, which should be expected. I am grateful for Ron, the athletic director for bringing Mike over and so what if he was or is his friend. That is good for Shadow. I think we all have or have had friend we did things for. That is what friends are for. We will never know what really happened to the former coach. Most of us have moved on from there and we stand “United, Not Divided”. Everybody wants to win but winning isn’t everything as we have so often heard so many times before. If we do not win a game all season, many will gripe. If we win just one more than last year many will gripe. That is what happens in all sports. I don’t need to say anything for my son to keep his spot. He was on starter on offense last year and does not start this year. We are ok with that. He is being coached by quality coaches and he is being given a great opportunity. He is enjoying High school sports. He has two State High School championships in track & field and several National Championships. (yes I can brag, it’s a blog).
I supported the old coach for three years until a certain point. I have always been a positive supporter of SMHS sports for the past 12 years. Shadow has never been known for its football program. So maybe it about time. Maybe it‘s our turn now. I think the weight room was a done deal. Not “one” person lobbied for the weight room. I was very close to that source and sat in on meetings about “the weight room”
Yes “Gio” has made changes. It is not always about the score. They (everybody) practice as a team. Work hard as a team. They play as a team. I think everybody that was at the Norte Dame game can honestly say, they look better as a team.
I have been a coach since 1978. I have also been the bunt of a few personal attacks. Sometime it’s not hard to take. I am still coaching and training athletes now for over 32 years. “Joe Blow”, if you are a coach, let it go, move on. If you did and are proud of all those accomplishments, more power to you. In some way, and some where down the line you are and you will be appreciated again.
Kristy, great article. We appreciate the “light post” about the New Head Football Coach at Shadow Mountain High School. Hmmmmmmmmm, I think you hit a nerve. This blog is about to get more hits !!!!!
Marcus Santa Cruz Profile Scout.com has confirmed that long snapper Marcus Santa Cruz from Phoenix College has decided to walk-on at Baylor. Please have some respect, Mitch Farney (Hawaii) may he rest in peace. Tyler Juede was recruited by Army – West Point, Tyler was an outstanding football player and a great scholar. He had the grades, ability and work ethic to go to Army. Unfortunately he is no longer playing football. Doug Zismann also had the grades, ability and work ethic to go to DI -UNLV. Let’s give credit where credit is due. If an athlete wants to go to College and play football, they can. Key word “want” Some athletes play High school sports with no aspirations ( a desire or ambition to achieve something) to play in college. Those who do you can tell. Others are enjoying their High School days, as they should. Each and every athlete will get something out of playing High School sports, DI, II, III or smaller school offers, others learn work ethic, others responsibility, others honor and respect for other people. We now have a great coaching staff instilling all those qualities into the good, great athletes at SMHS.
Just curious what person keeps up with whose goes where in the past 5 years. …….Sounds like a head coach to me…….my bad, former head coach………….Love a good blog……
Go Matadors !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All the High Schools in the PV School District got new weight rooms, Shadow just happened to be the last. It was not the work of any “one person”
Again, not the former HC. He wouldn’t comment on this stuff.
Check that score—Cactus Shadows 45 Shadow Mountain 21 (2 touchdowns against Cactus Shadows 2nd team Def), but, on a good note, the schedule is much easier from now on, I predict that the Matadors go 4-3 the rest of the way (Beat Independence, Verrado, Glendale, Sunnyslope–Lose to Apollo, Moon Valley and Prescott) to finish 4-6. Still waiting to see those big changes.
I posted the bad, now I will acknowledge the good. The Matadors have won 2 in a row (albiet against terrible teams–Independence currently last in the state in 4AI power rankings, and Verrado–22nd out of 33 in 4AII), so maybe they are headed in the right direction. However, this week it gets a lot tougher against Apollo. Will be a tough one for the Matadors, Apollo 38 SMHS 14
Right again! SMHS loses 35-3, I didn’t miss Apollos score by much, but gave the Matadors too much credit. Still waiting to see the big changes. I’m guessing that they are not coming.
Well, this weeks game will be tougher than most people think. Moon Valley is better than their record shows. Moon Valley 34 SMHS 24
haha can i have the score of that game one more time? And how about the score of the glendale game tonight against shadow?
Joe, We are making a change and your just mad about it. haha can i have the score of that game one more time? And how about the score of the glendale game tonight against shadow? Thats Right.. Big Change!
You’re right, I was wrong on the MV score, But was right on Glendale, if you look above you will see that I picked SMHS to beat Glendale, lets look at the teams that SMHS has beat– Verrado (2 wins, 7 losses-currenty ranked in bottom 10 of 4AII), Independence (2 wins, 6 losses, currently 25th of 29 teams in 4AI), Glendale (2 wins, 6 losses, currently 26th of 29 teams in 4AI), Moon Valley (3 wins, 5 losses, currently 17th of 29 teams in 4AI), for a total win loss record of 9 wins and 24 losses. Now the teams that Shadow has lost to: Apollo (6-2), Cactus Shadows (6-2), Queen Creek (7-1) and Notre Dame (7-1) for a total win loss record of 26-6. What does this all mean? Shadow has done a good job in region play, beating up on terrible teams (Currently the 8th easiest schedule in state based on AIA power rankings) but when they play a team with a winning record they have been outscored 148-65. Currently SMHS is ranked 16th in power points, which would get them the final seed in the playoffs, and a trip to Tucson to play top ranked Canyon Del Oro and stud running back Kadeem Carey, a game that I am sure would not go well for the Matadors.
Dear Joe blow,
If you have this much time on your hands to evaluate a football program you need to put your name to good use and go BLOW YOURSELF! Let us know how it goes on your next update!
I must’ve struck a nerve with someone. I’ve not posted one thing that isn’t true. So, try to post a resposible, adult reponse to my updates or don’t bother commenting.
Joe Blow,
It is obvious that the nerve that was stuck was yours from the start of this nice article. For some reason you would like to see the kids and the coaching staff at SMHS fail!! All you do is try and point out negative?? Why?? It is obvious to me that both the coaching staff and the kids are trying their best….isn’t that a more of an adult response? Try not to be a hater just because they are doing a great job!
I definetly do not want to see the kids at Shadow fail. I don’t believe that I have said that even once in my posts.I started out these posts pointing out some untruths that where written in the original article, thats all, then you others came on and began to attack me, and I have stood my ground, again with truth and facts.
Here we go, another region game for the Matadors against the Sunnyslope Vikings (1-7, currently ranked 26 out of 29 4AI teams) ‘slopes having a down year, but they have a VERY good QB in Ben Maraz, just not much else, he’s a one man show, and a good team effort should be able to overcome 1 player, I say:
Shadow 27 Sunnyslope 21
I can’t wait to read all of your witty responses.
SMHS 38 Sunnyslope 17
Just about what I expected, another win over a terrible team, Sunnyslope is now 1-8 and ranked #26 of 29 4AI teams, next weeks opponent is Prescott, a team that very much mirrors Shadow, they lose to good teams and beat the bad ones, earlier in the year I predicted Shadow to lose to Prescott, I’m not sure about that now. I’ll put my prediction here later in the week. A win this week would put the Matadors in the playoffs, while a loss would make it very interesting, their extremely weak schedule would hurt for power points, and might keep them out of the playoffs. As of now Shadow is ranked #14 in power rankings, if the season ended right now, they would have a playoff seed and would travel to Scottsdale to play……Saguaro. OUCH!! Thats a game that would not go well for the Matadors, I don’t think they could stay within 40 of Saguaro.
Next years sections/classifications have been announced (tentative), these are the teams that SMHS will be in with:
Chaparral–No Chance in hell of beating them—-ever
Notre Dame–0-2 against them, don’t see that changing
Sunnyslope–Should be able to beat them
Cactus Shadows–Their QB is a soph, can’t beat them
Prescott–Probably a loss
Goldwater–pretty equal opponent
Marcos De Niza–no chance in hell part 2
McClintock–depends on the year
Camelback–equal opponent
Deer Valley–a certain loss
Casa Grande–equal opponent
Perry–another no chance in hell
Horizon–another that won’t go good for Shadow
So, with the senior laden team that’s at Shadow now, and not much at all returning, it doesn’t look to get any better, unless of course Gio somehow gets a few more transfers this year. I guess anything is possible.
dude, get a life. how old are you? if you are older than 30 you are a real loser. did you coach at the school and not get asked to come back? good lord let it be and let the kids enjoy what is going on this year. by the way 95 percent of 5a 1 teams do not stand a chance against chap so you are genius for letting everybody know they may not fair to well against them. i think it is apparent you were on the staff last year and now you are bitter. i bet you are a 45 year old fat bald guy. take care moron.
I’m the moron? With your wonderful, childish, personal attacks against me? Look in a mirror, maybe, just maybe thats a moron staring back at you!!
What difference does it make what my motivation is for posting here? I was not on staff last year, and to even suggest that I am a “45 year old fat bald guy” is laughable. I have not posted even one untruth here, I’ve been onpoint on every post, and have backed my posts with FACTS. Try it, it might make you sound more intelligent.
Why did you single out my Chap prediction? I did the whole region, not just Chap, I even suggested a few that SM might fair well against, I guess that was an easy thing to point out about me? That I am a “genius” for telling everyone that Shadow won’t fair well against Chap? I also said that they won’t fair well against Marcos or Perry, I guess I am beyond genius!!
There you go AGAIN!! Negative Ned! Why keep bashing the team? I thought you wanted the kids to do well?? or maybe its just the coaching staff you have it out for?? I don’t get it…can’t you just wish the team well and let it go already? The FACT is the whole program is better then has been in how many years??? OH! I am sure you know how many years exactly…LOL
I do wish the KIDS well.
How did I bash the team? I reported the score and the facts regarding their win/loss record and their opponents. Thats all, no bashing.
Is the team really better than its been in years? Or is it just the amazingly weak schedule that has them where they are? They have played the same schedule as last year, but most of the region teams are far worse than they were last year, and SM has capitalized on that weak schedule as they should, but don’t let that fool you, when and if they get into the playoffs, the true team will show itself. If Shadow beats Prescott on Friday, they will certainly secure a playoff spot, most likely in the bottom half of the power rankings, and depending on their final spot would play a road game against one of these teams:
1. Canyon Del Oro
2. Queen Creek
3. Saguaro
4. Cienega
5. Sabino
6. Peoria
7. Bradshaw Mountain
8. Apollo
Do you really believe that they could go on the road to any of these schools and win? Really?
Well, I said I would make my prediction for this weeks game later in the week, here we are later in the week.
This is a tuff game to call, both of these teams have 5-4 records heading into the last regular season game, and each of them need to win to get into the playoffs (SMHS could still get in with a loss and a lot of help). If Shadow wins, they are definetly in, if Prescott Wins, they have a good chance of getting the #16 seed. Both teams have had success in the region against the weak teams, but have struggled in non-region competition, SMHS is 1-3 non-region and Prescott is 2-2, it is a home game for the Matadors, so thats a bit of an advantage, Prescott has no kicking game at all, and I think SMHS has one of the better kickers in the state, I think that could very well end up being the difference, SMHS wins a close one 17-14 on a last minute field goal. But, then its off to the playoffs and a dose of reality.
Well, I was right on with the outcome, but way off on the score. I figured the game would be very close, but I didn’t know until shortly before game time about the suspension of the kicker.
I don’t think the next one will be quite as close. Bradshaw Mtn will be tough at home, breaking down the two teams looks like this:
Shadow Averages 31.8 Points per game, Bradshaw 31.9
But defensively Shadow gives up 27.9 points per game, Bradshaw allows 14.0, nearly half as much.
They only had one common opponent-Prescott, Shadow beat them 48-47 in 2OT, while Bradshaw beat them 49-6, thats a HUGE difference.
Whats it all mean? I think Shadow would have to play a perfect game, and Bradshaw would have to play far below their ability in order for Shadow to pull out the win, Bradshaw will be one of the most physical teams that Shadow will play this year, and I just don’t think the Matadors can overcome that.
I say the score will be right on Bradshaws averages 28-14
Looks like I was just about right on with my prediction. Of Shadows 11 games this year, I was wrong on ONE. The Moon Valley game was the only one that I picked incorrectly. Congratulations to the PLAYERS on a good season, and to the graduating seniors, best wishes in your future endeavors.
The new region alignments are set, here is the region Shadow is in (with my predictions):
Barry Goldwater High School (enrollment: 1879)–An equal opponent for SMHS
Bradshaw Mountain High School (enrollment: 1731)–Not a good matchup for SMHS
Cactus Shadows High School (enrollment: 1827)–Have never beat them, probably never will
Chaparral High School (enrollment: 2127)–Do I need to bother with a comment here?
Deer Valley High School (enrollment: 1956)–Tuff matchup
Horizon High School (enrollment: 2160)–Not a good matchup
Kingman High School (enrollment: 2059)–an equal opponent
Marcos de Niza High School (enrollment: 1897)–no way can they beat Marcos
McClintock High School (enrollment: 1908)–a school with talent some years
Notre Dame Preparatory (enrollment: 919)–have Never beat them, probably never will
Perry High School (enrollment: 2114)–another bad matchup for SMHS
Prescott High School (enrollment: 1858)–Usually very tuff, had a down year this past season
Shadow Mountain High School (enrollment: 1749)
Sunnyslope High School (enrollment: 1807)–Not a very good program, a game that SMHS should be able to win.
Things just got much tuffer for the Matadors, I predict that they go back to the old ways of 3-7 records, and Giovando bails out after maybe 2 more years. But, now that he is listed as an asst Wrestling coach at Shadow, maybe he’s on a new career path?–Something smells fishy?? Is he REALLY coaching wrestling? Or is this a way to put a couple extra dollars in his pocket? You gotta wonder!
Well, well, well. I guess with the news of Giovandos “resignation” at Shadow, after only 2 years as HC, I was RIGHT on the money with my comments on this site. I shall be expecting the apologies that I deserve from all of you who bad mouthed me and my comments. I’ll not hold my breath.