Double Centurian: Carberry wins 100 college and high school games

Head football coach Ed Carberry was a history teacher as well as the head football coach at Monte Vista High School before making the move to college.

Now he has made history.

With the team’s early season 28-24 victory over Palomar College, Carberry earned his 100th victory at Southwestern College, giving him 100 wins at both the high school and college levels.

After a 14-year Hall of Fame coaching career at Monte Vista, Carberry said he realized it was time for a change.

“Looking around at my coaching friends there, I saw how tired and worn down they looked,” he said. “I did not want to be that, so I knew it was my time to leave. The community college coaching friends I had all seemed to be having fun with it, so I thought it was time for a change of scenery.”

After a short stint at Mt. San Jacinto College, Carberry moved south.

Carberry has made a huge impact at SC, turning an average team into one of the most successful programs in Southern California. His daughter Maegan Carberry said his latest milestone has secured his legend.

“I think him reaching 100 at both levels just solidified his status as one of the most impactful coaches in San Diego County,” she said. “It’s not just about him, but everyone who has been through his program. I see generations of people that come through our lives and been through this program developed by his mentor (Marijon Ancich) who passed last year. He continues that St.Paul legacy with him, which I know is so special for him.”

Carberry began coaching at his alma mater St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs under the direction Ancich, who retired as the all-time leader in California high school football history with 360 wins.

In 12 years at SC, Carberry has 105 wins and seven conference championships. He is quick to share credit.

“Moses died leaning on his staff,” he said. “It’s the same thing I do here.”

Longtime defensive coordinator Dionicio Monarrez said he has figured out how to build a winning team thanks to Carberry.

“His organization and commitment to working on fundamentals on a daily basis,” he said. “There’s a structure here of what we do every day. We all have to buy-in and it works. The players change so you adjust to them, but the organization of building a winning program from scratch, he has that.”

Monarrez said Carberry convinces coaches and players they can be champions

“He’s made a culture here where we all expect to win,” he said. “He’s instilled this value ‘have honor in everything you do.’ When we win it’s because of hard work. When you lose, it’s okay because we did everything we could.”

Carberry said his 40-plus years of coaching experience has shaped him.

“You think you know a lot, but you really don’t until you have had all these experiences,” he said. “The 100 wins on each level does not represent it all, because there are 300-plus games.”

Experience, Carberry said, has been the best teacher. His 42-year career has painted a picture for him of what a successful team should look like. He said he just has to complete the artwork each year.

“It is like when I help my wife with a puzzle and I use the box as a reference,” he said. “I’ve kind of seen what a championship team looks like. It’s my job to help put the picture together each year and mold the group into what it should look like.”

Success has made fond memories for countless players, but Carberry said there is so much more than nostalgia.

“What I want everybody to take away from this program is how to work,” he said. “No matter what you end up doing in your life, after you leave this program you will know what it means to prepare to be successful.”