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De Anza College football coach, Mike Mitchell.
Mitchell predicts Dons will improve in 2000
By Dick Sparrer
Mike Mitchell is new to the football program at De Anza Community College, so he's not exactly sure what to expect in the conference season in the 2000 campaign.
But while he may not know much about his club's opponents this fall, he already knows one thing about his Dons--they'll improve on their effort of a year ago.
"We plan on being greatly improved over 1999," said Mitchell, who comes to De Anza after 14 years as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Humboldt State University. "I was just hired as the head football coach in late May, so we didn't get a recruiting year in, but we have put together an excellent staff."
The Dons finished just 3-7 a year ago, but Mitchell figures that a solid corps of returners and a strong group of freshman prospect will help to turn that around.
"We have a good sophomore group," said the coach. "And we have a good freshman group. We expect many of the younger players to help lead this program back to the level where it once was."
Defensive backs Mitch Ignaitis (Homestead), Bernardo Zeballos (Cupertino) and Ian Nomura (Prospect), and linebackers Mark Smith (Valley Christian) and Adam Spiler (Monta Vista) are among the top defensive returners for the Dons.
On the offensive side, fullback Ben Mika (Homestead), wide receiver Jim Theil (Homestead) and quarterback Joey Stover are among the leaders.
High school all-leaguers moving into the program as freshmen include Robert Harp (Del Mar), Dustin Burnett (Santa Teresa), Vu Nguyen (Del Mar), Byron Ross (Oak Grove), Robert Amjad (Oak Grove), Nghia To (Milpitas), John Burke (Santa Clara) and Alex Hastings (Santa Clara).
Running back David Jackson (Cupertino) and wide receiver Marcus Page (Fremont) are other top young prospects for the Dons.
De Anza will open the season at home against San Jose City College on Sept. 9, 1 p.m., and will open conference play on Sept. 23 against Contra Costa College.
"West Valley has a runaway this year from what everyone says," said Mitchell.
But, then, he doesn't know much about the conference yet. He's still getting to know his Dons--and getting them ready for a strong showing in the 2000 season.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
