Betofe selected for new Matadors future

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 21, 2023

Courtesy, Indiana State Dept. of Education, circa 2011

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

Verlain Betofe

SPRING VALLEY – According to a web search on Bing.com. the meaning of the given name Betofe represents “ambition, independence and strength,” among others.

If this should hold true, Mount Miguel High should be plenty happy after naming Verlain Betofe as the new head coach of Matadors football.

The Matadors hope to transform a ballclub that last posted a winning season in 2013, even with the addition of one of Southern California’s most successful coaches — Troy Starr of Helix and Woodland Hills-Taft — over the previous five seasons.

The decline in success is simple: a lack of student-athlete participation, even under Starr. But with the enthusiastic Betofe taking over the coaching reigns, school administrators hope for increases in the number of athletes –and the quantity in victories.

“We’re going to do some amazing things here,” Betofe told The Union-Tribune. “I grew up in Southeast San Diego, played at Madison, and I wanted my first head coaching job to be in the inner city.”

“I have the same background as a lot of these kids. So we’re going to try to go uptempo with the offense, change the culture.”

Any improvement on a 33-64 composite mark over the past seven seasons will be such a culture shock to improve numbers, both on the field and in the stands with additional spectators.

From Madison, Betofe graduated from Indiana State and possesses a Masters degree. More recently, he served as an offensive coordinator, including CIF state playoff participant Mater Dei Catholic, a spot he took over at midseason in 2020.

The Crusaders captured back-to-back San Diego Sections championships the past two seasons, including a 34-28 decision over Mission Hills for the 2022 crown.

Previous stints include time at Kearny and Lincoln, also serving as OC.

Thus, don’t expect a boring ground game from the Matadors.

One impressive factor occurred when BYU offered football scholarships to five players — Surahz Buncom, Jeremiah McClure, Chris Snyder Jr., Isaiah Buxton, and Marcus Ratcliffe — four of which hail from Mater Dei Catholic (Radcliffe went to Cathedral Catholic).

According to CougarsDaily, Mater Dei Catholic went undefeated and won the California Division 2-AA state championship. All five players are part of Team Makasi – a 7v7 program founded by Betofe.