| Varsity Coaches |
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| Head Coach: Jeremy Plaa Coach Plaa is entering his seventh year at TDHS and his fourth year as Varsity Head Coach. He also begins his second year as Athletics Director. Coach Plaa is a graduate of Turlock High, Modesto JC, and San Francisco State University, achieving a Bachelor's in History and a Minor in Athletic Coaching. He also has his Master's Degree in Physical Education from the University of Texas-Tyler. He has coached football for 16 years and baseball for nine years. In 2003, he was selected as the Modesto Bee's District Coach of the Year after a 12-1 season as Gustine High's Head Coach, leading the team to a Section Championship Game. He was selected that year as Head Coach of the Lions' All-Star Game. Coach Plaa teaches Geography & Religions on campus. His wife Brooke is an English teacher, and alum, of Downey High School. They have three children- Braden, Tanner, and Jenna Rose. |
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| Chris May- Varsity Defensive Coordinator/Front Six Coach May will enter his fifth season at TDHS in 2010. He is a graduate of John Adams HS in South Bend, IN & DePauw University. He was a three-sport athlete in high school; participating in football, wrestling, and baseball. At DePauw, he was on the football and wrestling teams. He is our Foods teacher on-campus. Before becoming a teacher, Coach May spent 25 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry. He has been married for 34 years to his wife Karen, who is a Downey alum, and they have three children. |
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| Lynn Zwahlen- Varsity Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Zwahlen is entering his second year at Downey after coaching at Davis for the past 25 years. Lynn was a three-sport athlete at Davis High and graduated in 1972. He attended BYU on a football scholarship and then earned his DDS from Baylor Dental School. He currently maintains a general dental practice in Modesto. In his first year at Downey, Coach Zwahlen helped to install a passing attack that averaged 397 yards of passing per game, yielding the #1 QB in the State, and the #1 & #2 WR's. He and his wife, Susan, have five sons and one daughter. |
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| Matt Wall- Varsity Wide Receivers & Running Backs Coach Wall is entering his second season at TDHS. He is a graduate of John Glenn HS in Bay City, MI where he was a three-sport athlete and received all state honors, as well as player of the year in football. At MJC, he played two years of football and finished his career as a player at University of Mary in North Dakota. Since returning to CA, Coach Wall has worked with the running backs and slot receivers at MJC for three years, utilizing his experience as a player and his commitment as a coach. Currently, he is pursuing his degree in history and PE at California State Stanislaus. He is also the Head Track Coach at TDHS. |
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| Bryant Kendall- O-Line Coach Trout will have more info soon... |
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| Petey Rodriguez- O-Line Coach Rodriguez will have more info soon... |
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| Junior Varsity & Frosh Coaches |
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| Ernie Sanchez- JV Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Sanchez enters his third year coaching at TDHS. He is a graduate of Downey High, class of 1999. He played football and track while a Knight. At the completion of his Senior year, he was selected to the Lions' All-Star Game. After high school he played football at Northern State in South Dakota, and was also an active Rugby player. He is currently working on his History degree. Coach Sanchez is married with no children. |
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| Joey Bilodeau- Defensive Back Coach- Level TBA Coach Bilodeau enters his fourth year coaching at TDHS. He is a 1998 graduate of Grace Davis High School. After high school, he attended Modesto JC, and played football there for one season. He is currently working towards his degree, and has a career goal of being a teacher and a coach. In his free time, he plays a lot of amateur football, both flag and tackle. Coach Bilodeau has one son. |
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| Derek Cole- JV Head Coach Coach Cole enters his second year coaching at TDHS. He is a 2003 graduate of Downey High, and represented Downey High in the 2003 Lions' All-Star Game. He is currently working as the Site Substitute teacher at Downey High, and is the Director of Summer Camps at Foothill Horizons. He is taking over this year as our Head JV Coach. |
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| Scott Gordon- Frosh Offensive Coordinator Coach Gordon is a 1993 graduate of Thomas Downey High School. He is entering his ninth season of coaching football, both at the Youth & High School level. His Youth teams have had much success and he is fortunate to be working with many of the same young men that he has coached through Youth football. Coach Gordon works at Memorial Hospital, and is married with two sons. |
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| Ruben Platt- Defensive Backs Coach will have more info soon... |
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| Albert Platt- Tailbacks Coach will have more info soon... |
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| Matt Roy- JV Line Coach Coach Roy is entering his second season of coaching at TDHS. He is a graduate of Hughson High School, where he was a standout football player and MVP of his team as an Offensive & Defensive Lineman. |
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| Lio Fiumalosi- Frosh Line Coach Coach Roy is entering his second season of coaching at TDHS. He is a graduate of Hughson High School, where he was a standout football player and MVP of his team as an Offensive & Defensive Lineman. |
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| Volunteer Coaches |
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| Shane Juri- Assistant Coach Coach Juri is entering his third season at TDHS. A Downey alum of 1989, he was a three sport athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball. He played college baseball at West Valley junior college in the bay area, and graduated from Foothill College. He attended two professional camps for the Chicago Cubs & Cincinnati Reds. He has coached extensively at the youth football and baseball levels. He has also served on the board of directors of various youth sports organizations. He is a U.S. Army Veteran. Coach Juri is married to Michele and has three children. He is currently serving as the JV Head Softball Coach. |
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| Donovan Walker- Strength & Conditioning Specialist Info coming soon... |
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| Dr. Alan Jakubowski- Power Clean Specialist Info coming soon... |
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| Steve Corthell- Equipment Specialist Stevie has been with Downey for over 20 years. He is our fix-it specialist, and helps out with numerous sports on campus. He can be seen running the scoreboards for football and basketball, and on the grounds crew for the baseball team. It is with thanks to Stevie is able to fix anything mechanical in the athletic department. |
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| Roy Gordon- Trainer Roy came to Downey in 1985 as the JV soccer coach. In 1990 he became the Varsity coach and also the Frosh Football Trainer. In 1991, he stopped coaching to become the trainer for all sports at Downey, and has been doing it ever since- 20 years. He travels with all three football teams, wrestling, and the Varsity baseball team. He is not a certified trainer, but he has attended Sports Medicine training seminars and workshops at UOP, University of Washington (go Huskies) and at Memorial Hospital. He is certified in Red Cross First Aid and CPR. Over the years, Downey has been luck to have Roy work our sidelines; and he has been grateful to work with some of the best Ortho Doctors and Physical Therapists in Modesto. |
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