Interview: New East LA Coach Eric Marty talks Huskies football
New East Los Angeles College head coach Eric Marty is a chip off an extremely old block, more like a block from the 1920’s through the 1940’s with a new age twist. After the dual-threat Chapman University star tore up competition at the collegiate level he took off for the IFL, Italian Football League, winning championships as a player coach starting at quarterback, punter, and kicker.
The last official player/coach in the NFL that I can remember was running back Dan Reeves serving as a coordinator under Tom Landry with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970’s. Chances are what the Cowboys’ offense ran back in the 70’s is nowhere near as intricate as what Marty ran with his European squads.
A couple of IFL and Austrian Football League championships and MVPs later Marty gave up his dream of extending his own professional career to give his all on helping the next generations of football players reach their full potential.
Marty jumped into the fold in the states as a college coach in 2012 working with Division-II Oklahoma Panhandle University as a wide receivers coach. In 2013 he made the move to California working as the offensive coordinator at Moorpark Junior College. By 2014 Moorpark’s offense was humming under Marty’s direction averaging 437 yards per game along with 30 points. In two seasons he helped 10 players earn All-Conference honors setting up the Raiders offense to be successful going forward.
Now the attention has been turned to the Huskies of East LA College or ELAC for those in the area. Marty’s task with turning around the Huskies on offense is not insurmountable. In 2014 ELAC had a balanced offense coming up with 345 total yards of offense, 224 passing and 121 rushing while averaging 21 points per game. Solid numbers by any measure but far below what Marty’s offensive mind and direction is capable of producing in time.
Despite ELAC’s 3-7 record last season the team is, and normally always is, chalked full of talent and potential Division-I prospects. Over the last four recruiting classes ELAC has produced Kansas defensive back Nas Moore (2012), Bowling Green wide receiver Michael Allen (2012), Utah offensive lineman Carlos Lozano (2012), Louisiana-Lafayette offensive lineman Casey Baker (2013), Colorado State wide receiver Willie Udofia (2013), Wyoming offensive lineman Albert Perez (2013), Moran State linebacker and defensive tackle Donyae Olton and Brad Sanchez (2013), Southern Utah quarterback Aaron Cantu (2013), Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle Michael Wyche (2014), and Louisiana-Lafayette defensive end Darzil Washington (2014).
We were able to catch up with Coach Marty as the team is on hiatus for spring break getting a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview with the Huskies first year coach.
Eric, your offense at Moorpark was explosive in 2014 averaging 437 yards a game. How quickly do you think the Huskies will be able to pickup your offense to start achieving similar results?
“The learning curve will be less each year. At Moorpark it took two years. At ELAC we have a lot of talent and athletes from local recruits. I think we can be dynamic in Year One. I think we can be the offense we want in Week One, Game One. I can draw anything up but I have to have the talent and coaches to execute the game plan.”
How does the team look halfway through spring practices?
“We are looking for guys that are football players. We started with 120 guys and are down to 50-60 that are here everyday. Our guys are buying in and we are finding the nucleus of our team.
“We want guys that are serious about being college football players, players that want to be D-I players. Our system is not going to be a fit for everyone. I think we’ve weeded out some of the wanna-be high school football players that are serious about school and open to coaching.”
Are the players adjusting well to the new staff?
“Anytime a new staff walks in there is a honeymoon and adjustment period, the guys are doing a great job adjusting.”
Who his your Week 1 opponent and have you started game planning for that team yet?
“We have Glendale in Week 1. We’ve seen some footage on them. I believe in working in steps. Our offense and defense are running base packages now and then we will start adding to it. But we have not start putting in a game plan yet. We are still working on putting in the core base on both sides of the ball.”
What does ELAC need to do this year in order to have a successful season?
“Recruiting and commitment, getting the right athletes in place, and if it’s all there we’ll have a special season. Special things do not happen without a special commitment.”
Who are a couple of impact players currently on your squad that will help bring success to ELAC in 2015?
“We have a lot talent on both sides of the ball. We have a couple of offensive linemen, Albert Pina (6’5”, 290), and Israel Lorenzo (6’4”, 280), a couple of wide receivers Iheanyi Obinna (6’5”, 210) and Leonard Taylor (5’10”, 175), a couple of defensive backs Rob Douglas (6’1″, 175) and Jerome Hendrix (6’2″, 180), and a couple of linebackers in Jose Aguero (6’0”, 205) and Johnathan Enriquez (6’1”, 220) that will be really special for us. We’ve been very fortunate to get the number of guys we’ve received at ELAC. Since 2010 I think we’ve had 30 players go to the next level. That is something we are proud of.”
You mentioned recruiting is important to executing your game plan, when watching film or attending a game, what do you look for at different positions as a tell-tale sign that a kid has next level ability?
“First thing is, guys have to put great film together and pay attention to what their highlight film looks like. Football coaches are now part of the YouTube generation. When coaches turn on a highlight film chances are they will give you 4-5 plays to show something, after that if not hooked we are going to move on. The guy running the fade route catching a touchdown pass, we see that play all the time. Recruits need to show us a dynamic play with athleticism like a tough catch going across the middle, making a man miss, or running over a defender in traffic.
“We look at all of the film that comes in but it better be good or it’s not going to last past the first play. The first play needs to be great to make us think this recruit is a dynamic player.”
What are some of the difficulties in recruiting?
“Some of the difficulties are getting all of the contact information. There are high school coaches that don’t do a great job of getting the kids’ information out. Sometimes with young athletes the cell phone bill doesn’t get paid, now they have a new number, and you’ve been calling the wrong number for the last three weeks.
“Some players communicate better than others, some are getting swamped by recruiters, and some are not getting as much recruiting attention and are more receptive. As a coach we are in constant contact trying to build that relationship to see if there is a good fit.”
What are you thoughts on exposure camps?
“For us, we don’t pay attention too much to them, it’s the nature of being at the JUCO level. Guys are coming here for four reasons. Their grades not good enough, they need to develop physically or develop their skill set, or they did not get enough exposure in high school. If you’re an athlete growing up going to Nike camps or a USC camp chances are you will have great measurables. It all really depends on who you are.”
How can high school football players help themselves in becoming better players?
“Schools want big strong developed athletes. Recruits need to invest in their high school strength program or get out and run on there own. Quarterbacks need to go out and throw on their own and get wide receivers to run routes. Polishing your skill set is important. Playing multiple sports helps guys learn how to compete.
“Guys are better severed playing at one school rather than hopping around from one school to another. Playing at one school, working your way into playing time sets you up for the college experience. Kids will learn how to compete for playing time going into college instead of jumping to another program because they are unhappy with their playing time at their current school.”
What’s the biggest adjustment on and off the field for most college players?
“Kids have to go from reading their name in the newspaper to being the low man on the totem poll and working their way back up to the top. Once you’re in the program football has to be really important. These kids are going to have to work their butts off and stay hungry and wait for their opportunity. That’s the toughest thing.
“Ten percent of freshmen, maybe three percent, get that instant satisfaction at the college level. Most kids get no reps in practice, that’s a tough adjustment. Each kid has to take that long term view thinking “I’m going to be a better player at age 22-23. I have to prepare for my opportunity.”
When looking at measurables, what stands out to you at different positions?
“Everybody wants a larger, taller QB. I’m not sure about the pure physics of an eye level at 6-foot verses being 6-foot 4-inches. How much more do you see? I want a guy that is comfortable in the pocket, making reads and throws. Does he have the athletic ability to make something happen beyond schoolyard football?
“When we evaluate a quarterback at a camp we are looking to see if the player has a consistent base and process. Is he consistently accurate? The biggest thing, can he replicate proper mechanics and footwork to be an accurate QB?
What got you into coaching?
“I always knew I wanted to be a coach from the time I was five to six-years-old, and specifically a football coach. The idea that 11 guys have an assignment and are going out there with a game plan to execute was exciting to me. Once the ball snaps there is so much that can happen. Even when playing overseas I knew my future was coaching football.
What brought you back to coaching in the U.S. after playing a few years overseas?
“My passion really is coaching. I could have kept playing overseas. The talent level over there is low. Getting into the NFL was not going to happen. I did four years over there, coached high school football here in the fall during my offseason in Europe but I knew I could not go half in as a coach.”
What is your favorite part about coaching?
“For one, helping guys develop and helping guys figure it out. I like after a couple of years of work, then being able to see their growth in skill level and personal maturity. I like competing and problem solving. I like finding better ways to teach it and coach it and finding ways to make changes on the football field during the games.”
How should high school recruits get in touch with you if interested in playing at ELAC?
“The best way to start the recruiting process is to go to ELAC.com, fill out the recruitment form there. Put in all the vital information and attach your film. That’ll get the ball rolling. Then the position coach will be in touch.”
In his own words Coach Marty summed up what ELAC has to look forward to from their first year head coach, “Special things do not happen without a special commitment.”
Ambitious, smart, experienced, and driven to succeed with a special commitment to the program and his players, all characteristics of a great coach that will help mold future generations of college football players. Under Coach Marty, seeing the Huskies transform into a powerhouse team will be fun to watch.
Written by Ryan Wright
Photo credit: ELAC; Coach Eric Marty
Photo credit: EastLASportsScene.com,Erik Sarni; Coach Eric Marty