ENGILMAN HAPPY TO HAVE A FRESH START FORMER SYLMAR COACH BACK ON SIDELINES AT WEST RANCH.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

STEVENSON RANCH - A year away from high school football has given legendary coach Jeff Engilman the proper prospective.

Among the all-time winningest coaches in the San Fernando Valley at Sylmar before retiring after the 2003 season with 205 career wins and six section titles over 24 years - plus five JV seasons - Engilman, 54, is making a comeback as the new freshman coach at second-year school West Ranch High.

And he's loving every minute of it.

``I haven't worked with lower-level kids since 1978 but it doesn't matter. Football is in my blood,'' Engilman said. ``I really enjoy it, and the kids are working hard. Here at West Ranch, it's kind of a different element than I'm used to, but I think the year off from football finally told me that I really want to be a football coach; I missed the camaraderie with the players.''

Engilman, of Acton, isn't just known for being one of California's most successful coaches. He's also among the toughest. An intimidating screamer who most would agree is at least one degree beyond hard-nosed, Engilman is an intense commander - and undoubtedly a bit scary for a group of 14- and 15-year old freshmen, most of whom have never played football before.

That's why Engilman has decided to tone down his approach during this stint, and he's OK with that.

``It's an adjustment because at this level the kids kind of cower down if you yell too much, so I've been trying to watch myself,'' he said. ``If not, I don't think a lot of these kids would keep playing.''

Of course, Engilman hasn't calmed down completely. If he did, he wouldn't be the same man. And Engilman has enjoyed too much success - coaching four eventual NFL players along the way - to change too drastically.

``Sometimes I can still hear him from across the campus,'' varsity coach Mike Kane said.

West Ranch's top new player, running back Trenten Yokofich, knows Engilman's reputation and is pleased to have such an experienced, successful coach at the frosh level.

``Yes, if a coach yells too much then some of the players might take it the wrong way, but I've heard a lot of about coach Engilman's history, and if a coach is too nice than the team will fall apart,'' said Yokofich, who scored 23 touchdowns in a youth league last fall. ``I've had coaches who let everyone kind of slack off, and we didn't win many games.''

Engilman is in the midst of summer practice, which combines conditioning with learning the game of football - without helmets and pads. He's teaching the youngsters the basics, and he knows everything will change when the kids return in mid-August after a three-week break - and begin to hit.

``We're taking things very slow, one step at a time,'' Engilman said. ``But you can bet that when most of them come back, they're going to forget everything, so we're going to have to start all over again.''

The transition has been smooth because Engilman has two experienced assistants, Dan Kelly and Fred Grimes. Kelly was the offensive coordinator at Sylmar, which was consistently among the section's highest-scoring teams, and Grimes is a former head coach at North Hollywood and offensive coordinator at Kennedy of Granada Hills.

Originally, the plan was for the three to sign on at a new City Section school - which never opened. There's talk the threesome will move on after one year at West Ranch, but Engilman isn't so sure; he might just stick around for a while.

``Yeah, we were talking about going to a new City school but you know the L.A. Unified School District, so who knows?'' he said.

For now, Engilman is savoring the moment. He's thrilled to be back doing what he loves to do, and he appreciates an opportunity to coach at a suburban school for the first time in many years.

``It's much different here. You don't have to deal with all the gang bangers and things like that,'' he said. ``But as far as the football aspect is concerned, it doesn't really matter where you coach. It's just great to be back.''

Gerry Gittelson, [phone]

gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) New West Ranch freshman football coach Jeff Engilman won 205 games and six section titles over 24 years at Sylmar High.

(2) ``I haven't worked with lower-level kids since 1978 but it doesn't matter. Footbal is in my blood,'' said Jeff Engilman, who coached the Sylmar varsity for almost a quarter-century.

David Crane/Staff Photographer