Hard Knocks Training Camp

Calabasas High School Football players and coaches are in high gear preparing for the upcoming season. The team is led by second-year coach Cary Harris. Harris was a standout cornerback for USC and was drafted by the NFL Buffalo Bills. He played for the Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, and NY Giants. The Calabasas High coaching staff has over 60 years of coaching experience. Two played in the NFL, three for Division 1 college teams, and two of the coaches played football for Calabasas High School. Phil Magbanua, assistant football coach and head coach for JV, graduated from Calabasas in 1991 and has been the director of player personnel for UNLV, offensive intern for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and director of football operations at UCLA. Bailey Hiona graduated from Calabasas in 2015 and was a star on both the baseball and football teams.

Coming off of a rewarding 4-1 pandemic-shortened season, the Coyotes are loaded and ready. All sports teams faced adversity last year. The Coyotes originally had six games scheduled, but three of the six teams canceled their seasons. The players and coaches stuck together, grew stronger, and overcame adversity. The lessons learned from last year will serve them well. The 2021 Coyotes have 60 players led by sophomore Aaron Butler, who has already had offers from USC, the University of Pittsburgh, and Penn State. Other leaders whom Coach Cary will depend on include seniors OL Robbie Wilder, WR/LB Steven Rauso, C Nolan Wilson, WR/S Matt Hason, LB Jason Medrano, and WR/LB Calvin Conley.   

Their focus is on recapturing the Marmonte League title. Calabasas won CIF Championships in 2015 and 2016 and the Marmonte League title in 2019. The coaches and team are watching film, installing new plays and schemes, hitting the weight room, and running the drills to get the students ready for the new season.

Over the past three years, Calabasas Football has sent over 20 student athletes to prestigious Division 1 football programs like Yale University, University of Penn, UCLA, Cal Berkeley, Oregon State, University of Georgia, Arizona State University, University of San Diego, Wesleyan University, University of Wyoming, and Portland State University. Local businesses have been terrific in stepping up to support Calabasas Football. If you are interested in supporting/ sponsoring, please email chsfootball@lvusd.org.

“The adversity that this team has faced and how well they responded and pulled together is something that has shaped them and matured them beyond measure,” says Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Stepenosky. “Life throws challenges at all of us. We are defined by how we respond. Our goal for all Calabasas student athletes, and especially our football players, is that they be leaders on the field/court, in the classroom, on campus, and in the community. I can’t wait to watch this team in action this year.”