American River College’s defensive coordinator Lou Baiz is used to being around coaches.
His father was a head coach in Southern California for 35 years and of his brothers, one is currently a head coach in Rancho Cucamonga, California and another is an offensive coordinator at the community college level.
ARC football head coach Jon Osterhout hired Baiz prior to the fall 2014 season after he spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator for Sacramento State University.
Baiz comes from a coaching family and is well versed in his profession, something Osterhout sees as big advantage for his players.
Baiz and Osterhout are not newly acquainted, having met 16 years ago in a coaching class.
Osterhout described Baiz as a “very good friend of his.”
“Lou is a phenomenal football coach and has a tremendous scheme that his players have bought into,” said Osterhout.
Their relationship spans 16 years, going back to coaching together for nine years at Sac State, where he was the team’s linebacker and defensive coordinator.
In his four years at Sac State, 32 of his players on defense finished with Big Sky Conference honors, eight of whom were selected in his first season.
These players included linebacker Cyrus Mulitalo, who finished the 2006 season with 120 tackles and safety Brent Webber, who finished with six interceptions and third team All-American honors.
Baiz coaches from the press box, where he can see the other team’s offensive schemes and then call the defensive play down to his assistant coach.
Defensive lineman Sean Amos, a freshman who is redshirting, described coach Baiz as very passionate on the field.
Baiz said he is excited to be working with the new players from a season ago, 10 in total.
“I am very happy with this year’s team, even though at this level there is a lot of transition,” said Baiz.
