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SAN JOSE — Bellarmine’s Mike Janda, the all-time winningest football coach in Central Coast Section history, announced Friday that he is stepping down after 36 seasons.
He coached at the school for more than four decades.
“Forty-one years, that’s a long time to be coaching here at Bellarmine,” Janda said. “It was just time. There was not any one particular reason. I knew at some point I would know when the time is right and it turns out that the time is right.”
Janda, who will turn 69 next week, led Bellarmine to six CCS and 14 West Catholic Athletic League championships. His team won a Northern California regional crown in 2015 and played in three state title games.
He finished with 286 wins.
In a news release sent by the school, Janda added, “I would especially like to thank John Amarillas, Dan Burke and Mike Henry, with whom I have coached for the past 19 years. The memories and friendships that I have made through the years will be with me for the rest of my life.”
Amarillas, Burke and Henry also are stepping down from coaching, though Amarillas, Henry and Janda will continue to teach at the school.
Bellarmine was a Bay Area power for decades under Janda but had fallen on hard times since one of the coach’s most memorable triumphs, a stunning victory over Folsom in the 2015 NorCal Division 1-AA final that made Janda’s the CCS’s winningest coach.
Since that night, the Bells have won just 16 games.
Janda said he discussed the idea of stepping down with his longtime assistants and they decided the time was right for all of them.
“We started talking about it and when I went, John and the rest of them as well said, ‘I think it’s time for us, too,'” Janda said. “It’s time for a new beginning, a fresh beginning for Bellarmine varsity football.”
Appreciation for Janda poured in on social media and interviews with his peers.
“Class, that’s the one word,” said St. Francis coach Greg Calcagno, whose father, Ron, also coached against Janda’s teams. “When I got the head job back in 2013, he was one of the first guys I called. Just a great guy to go in the offseason and have a beer with and talk. Just a good, good human being and a heck of a football coach that won an awful lot of games.”
Serra coach Patrick Walsh called Janda a friend, remembering some of his team’s epic battles against Bellarmine.
“When I got to Serra, it was a time where we were looking up at Mike Janda, everything he does at Bellarmine,” Walsh said. “I basically modeled a lot of the things in the WCAL that I did at Serra around who he is, the type of coach he is. The way the team plays at Bellarmine was everything I wanted the Padres to be.
“That’s a testament to him, coach Amarillas, his assistants. Basically, four guys hung in there forever and just the camaraderie and continuity was something we wanted to model at Serra.”
Along the way for Janda, there were many memorable games, against St. Francis, against Serra, against Valley Christian and even against De La Salle.
Bellarmine nearly ended the Concord power’s now 29-year unbeaten streak against Northern California opponents in 2011 but lost 26-23 in double overtime.
“We were a missed extra point away,” Janda said. “But it wasn’t meant to be. It didn’t happen, so the streak continues. We do occasionally think about it. But you can’t change the history. It would have been nice, but that’s what the game of football is all about. You’ve got to make the plays, and we didn’t.”
Legendary De La Salle coach Bob Ladouceur, who stepped down after the 2012 season, said Friday that coaching against Janda’s team was a challenge.
“I knew Mike pretty well, as far as a colleague,” Ladouceur said. “Bellarmine was really fortunate to have him because he was not just a good coach, he’s a good educator and a good man. He’s good for kids. Every time we played them, I knew they were going to be well-prepared. I knew they were going to come out and be physical and come after us. We always circled that game on our calendar. ‘This is going to be a big game.’ It was always a good battle. He had a great career.”
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Four years after that near-victory, Bellarmine ended Folsom’s 43-game home winning streak, 42-35, to reach a state final.
When the Bells gathered on Folsom’s blue turf afterward, Amarillas told the players about Janda moving to the top of the wins list among CCS coaches.
“That made it extra special,” Janda said. “We were able to all celebrate together — not only the victory but that as well. It really was a special night. I’ll never forget it.”
Amarillas called it “the greatest privilege and honor” to coach alongside Janda.
“It has always been my thought that when Mike decided to step away, I would go with him,” he said in the news release. “We have been working together for 35 years and I cannot imagine coaching this incredible sport without him. Mike not only set the standard for being a football coach but is the epitome of how all coaches should conduct themselves.
“Mike consistently modeled that the greatest lesson for every player and coach to learn is that we were always going to ‘do it the right way.’ That was more than just the play on the field; it was how we were challenged to be in all things we do. Be it by being respectful of our opponents, serving the less fortunate in our community, or expressing ourselves through prayer, these are the things that mattered. Coaching was so much more than the Friday night game.”
The school said in the release that it will search for the next coach and staff in the coming months.
“We had a really great freshman class this last year,” Janda said. “They were undefeated and won the league. There are some good, young players in the program and we had some good young players on the varsity team. I think the new coach will be able to work with the guys they’ve got, maybe change the style a little bit and hopefully get them going in the right direction. There are some great kids in place for them to move forward.”
Bell Football Update: A legend has retired! We are so thankful that Coach Janda gave us 41 years! Coach is the winningest coach in CCS history & considered one of the best coaches & person in CIF football history. A special thanks to Coaches Amarillas, Henry and Burke as well!! pic.twitter.com/Tl9hVzt1la
— Bellarmine Athletics (@BCPSports) January 24, 2020
I'm incredibly grateful to Coach Janda and his staff for the amazing coaches, mentors, and models that they have been. Coach Janda has been the head coach since before I was a freshman at Bellarmine! https://t.co/i3k3LFgH15
— Chris Meyercord (@BCPPres) January 24, 2020
The game is losing a great coach but even better person. Enjoy retirement Coach!
— Coach Lugo (@coach_lugo1) January 24, 2020
One of the best head coaches in Bay Area history! Happy retirement, Mike! https://t.co/Mt93SzVJIG
— Coach Vass (@CoachVass) January 24, 2020
Congrats on an amazing career. You always did it with so much class. Enjoy retirement Coach Janda.
— Coach Lo (@coachstevenlo) January 24, 2020
