It's not uncommon to hear coaching legend Harry Welch say "I love ya!" He'd say it to his players, their parents, even opponents.
Such was the case on a September night in Carson during the 2011 season. Welch's Eagles had just survived a battle against the Carson Colts in an intersectional non-league matchup, needing a 17-point fourth quarter to win and keep its undefeated season alive.
Following the game, Welch had a long exchange with then-Carson head coach Elijah Asante in the middle of the field. The coaching legend offered compliment upon compliment to the Carson coach and told him he loved him.
Asante would later join Welch's staff during the 2013 season -- Welch's last before retiring from coaching.
It's a year Asante looks back on fondly. The relationship continues. It was Welch, after all, who brought to his attention an opportunity he wouldn't want to pass up.
Asante didn't.
Meet new St. John Paul II (@jp2falcons) football coach Elijah Asante - http://t.co/cXQAYEUv8d pic.twitter.com/fD04pFKuWM
— Daniel Boyette (@danielboyette) April 23, 2015
Later this week, he'll be moving to Alabama to take over as the athletic director and head football coach at St. John Paull II Catholic High School.
"I just think it's a great opportunity to leave Los Angeles, go to Alabama, and build a program," Asante said. "I just see it as a blessing that I'm being tabbed to go across the country to build a program with some young men and take it from the bottom and take it to the top."
The school was founded in 1996 but has only been participating in varsity football for three years. The Falcons are coming off of an 0-11 season, but it is Asante's belief that the building blocks are there to turn JP2 into a winning program.
"They really want to build," Asante said, who was the head coach at Compton last season. "They really care. They really are passionate about building a program."
ST. JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL ADDS NEW FOOTBALL COACH. For full article visit: http://t.co/99c94cbkYu pic.twitter.com/07xNsrHY9o
— JPIICHS (@jp2falcons) April 23, 2015
Asante was in Alabama last week for an introductory pep rally. He had the chance to meet his new players and even order two sets of new, top-of-the line, Nike uniforms -- similar in style to what teams wore during the College Football Playoff earlier this year.
"The kids are extremely excited about that," he said.
Asante is back in California briefly before returning to Alabama for good later this week.
By doing so, he's saying goodbye to the PAC-5 and all that comes with it, for what he says is "the opportunity of a lifetime."
And he can't wait to get started.
"I love the support," Asante said. "I love everything that they have set up. I'm looking forward to it."
