Santa Fe Boys Soccer team honors longtime coach, teacher, Carlos Casillas
Jorge Casillas, holds a shirt with a picture of his brother, as Santa Fe varsity soccer players and alumni players play in their annual alumni game in memory of Coach Carlos Casillas at Santa Fe High School on Friday. Casillas, a longtime history teacher and soccer coach passed away in February. (Photos by Keith Durflinger)
SANTA FE SPRINGS – Juan “Carlos” Casillas had a lot of friends and was loved by all.
The longtime Santa Fe High School social science teacher and former boys soccer coach, who passed away last February, was remembered recently at the alumni game last Friday (December 3).
In attendance were his brother Jorge and sister Martha and a huge number of former players and the current varsity team, who were all wearing shirts with a portrait and just simply the words, “In Loving Memory of Coach Casillas.”
“I’ll tell you what, it’s emotional for my family,” said Jorge Casillas, who is Carlos’ younger brother and even jumped into the game for a few minutes. “But, just to see his face on the back (of the shirts) was special.
“He dedicated his life to this school and to the school district. He did it with passion and he did it with compassion. We talked so much about his daily school life, weather it was coaching or in the classroom, he just put 100% of his life dedicated to his school.”
Martha Casillas, who brought two poster boards full of memories of Carlos through the years, echoed what her brother Jorge said: “Oh my gosh, Santa Fe was everything to him. These were his kids and he saw this place as his family.
“That they’re doing this for him is such an honor. It’s awesome for us to be here.”
“The kids had that special bond with him, to say that these were his kids, that’s for sure. It’s hard to believe that we’re going through this. I still feel him around and you know, this is just a break and we’ll see him again.”
In addition to the alumni game, a great honor was bestowed in Casillas’ memory this past August.
Prior to a football game this past season, the press box at Pioneer High School, where Casillas spent many Friday night’s announcing for his favorite team, the Chiefs, was dedicated in his memory.
A sign on the outside of the press box reads: “Carlos Casillas Press Box.”
His family, brothers Jorge and Jaime, sister Martha and mother Flora, were in attendance in the press box and viewed the beautiful plaque that adorned on the wall.
Current Santa Fe Athletic Director Steve Hendry spoke of his friend of three decades.
“I was fortunate to work with Carlos for almost 30 years,” Hendry said. “He was without a doubt one of the nicest people I have ever known. As his brother George said at the dedication, ‘Carlos was in it for the kids.’”
“Being around him as a teacher, coach, and as the voice of Santa Fe, his dedication to the students was obvious.”
The plaque inside the press box said in part, “Carlos will be remembered by many for his golden voice. Growing up, Carlos dreamed of sportscasting; this became a reality over the last 39 years as he volunteered as the official announcer at Santa Fe. He was affectionately known as ‘The Voice of the Santa Fe High School Chiefs.’ Mr. Casillas announced football games, basketball games, baseball games, and any other athletic or student event in need of his golden voice and enthusiasm.”
Edwin Felix, class of 2012, pressures Hernan Rangel, sophomore defender, during the annual alumni game in memory of Coach Carlos Casillas at Santa Fe High School on Friday. Casillas, a longtime history teacher and soccer coach passed away in February. (Photo by Keith Durflinger
The alumni game, which had graduates from the past 13 years and was organized in part by boys varsity soccer coach Raul Ruvalcaba, saw a large turnout of former players.
“It was a game that represented coach Casillas’ spirit,” said Ruvalcaba, who played for Casillas. “The whole game was just everyone having fun out here. It was always about that – having fun.”
“His brother Jorge said at the beginning of the game about playing and everyone having fun and the opportunity to have the chance to come out and play. We had 25 players (alumni) out here who knew and played for him. They all loved him and still do. He’s very alive in our hearts and we’re never going to forget him. We plan on continuing this every year.”
Ruvalcaba continued about the game and the thoughts of Casillas, “Some of my best friends in life I met here in this high school playing for coach Carlos Casillas.
“We’re very thankful with so many memories of him and we want to dedicate our season to him and want to start with this alumni game and are just thankful for his family to be here.”
Jorge spoke to the alumni just prior to the start of the game and said, “…one thing about my brother is he wanted everybody to play. I just loved the fact that he always had a couple of character guys on his team.”
“Now, go get these dog gone son of a guns and put some goals in the net.”
The alumni, with a big roster, did just that and beat the varsity.
One former coach (2006-’10) and current teacher (chemistry) at Santa Fe, Walter O’Brien said, “We always had an alumni game and when Carlos was coach, he would trot around.
“He was a great guy and mentored me a lot, not only in teaching, but in several ways in how to interact with the kids. I connected with Carlos real well with his passion with soccer.”
Recent graduate Emilio Garcia (2019) mentioned that Casillas had coached his older brothers, Ricardo Garcia (’11) and Esteban Garcia (‘09).
“When I was a freshman here (Santa Fe), he would say hi, but I didn’t know who he was,” Emilio Garcia said. “The next year I recognized that he was the soccer coach. He would always share stories and always be happy. We’d all stop by in his classroom.
“Honestly, he was one of the best teachers here that made an impact on my four years of high school.”
As much as people might have thought Casillas had graduated from Santa Fe, he actually attended and went to Pioneer High, graduating in 1978.
Four years later (1982) he returned to his alma mater as a substitute teacher. Four years after that (1988) he began his career-long love affair with Santa Fe as a teacher and coach.
Carlos spent a good part of his life on the Santa Fe Springs campus. The press box plaque continued – “He dedicated his time to attending or announcing athletic events or judging class competitions. Carlos tirelessly supported all school events and activities without regard for his own time, as long as it meant an opportunity to help students.”
Santa Fe Principal, Craig Campbell and Vice Principal, Fernie Fernandez were in attendance at the game.
Said Campbell: “It’s an awesome day for us, Campbell said. “A day like this keeps Carlos and his family in our thoughts and prayers. I’m glad that coach (Ruvalcaba) decided to put this on. We have a lot of former players to come out and play.
“It’s a great opportunity to remember him and what he did for this school and our soccer program. He was a kind and loving guy that was willing to do anything for anyone.”
The touching words on the plaque at Pioneer High also said, “For years to come, Carlos will be remembered for his kind words, passion for sports, and his love of the community to which he dedicated his life.”
The plaque ends with: “With Carlos’ spirit and voice in mind, The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees would like to dedicate the press box at Dick Torres Stadium, Pioneer High School, to honor the memory of Carlos Casillas.”
What they said:
Wilber Sanchez (2013), former soccer player: “(Carlos) was my JV and varsity coach. Coach Casillas would always play to win, but he made sure that everyone had fun.
At the end of the day, weather we lost by 10 goals or won by two, I guarantee we had tacos after the game. We all loved it. Those Del Tacos, soft one-dollar chicken tacos were the best.
Great memories, great person, great coach.”
Josh Rodriguez, senior, varsity soccer player: “I had him as a coach in my freshman year when I was in JV. He was always uplifting and was a very kind man. Even if you weren’t doing your best in a game, he put all of his faith in you.
He had a lot of love for the school and he was very energetic. He loved it when the school was doing well.”
Esahn Mejia, senior soccer player: “I didn’t play much in my freshman year, but in my sophomore year he made me captain for the JV team.
He helped me become better as a person. He would always let us go into his class and eat lunch. Everyone liked him as a teacher and as a coach.
We all want to honor him and celebrate his life.”
Jacob Chuang, sophomore, soccer varsity player: “I feel grateful to be part of a program that he was a part of.
This feels like it’s going to be an annual thing. Hopefully the seniors that play in this game will come back and play against us too.”