Marque Willis Takes Full Reins as Head Coach

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - We all know about the legend of the “Big Red” and their historic domination of Northern California high school football in the ‘70s and ‘80s. These teams had one thing in common, and that was a coaching staff that brought their passion for the game and took pride in their leadership of young men.  Names like Dewey Guerra, Ron Lancaster and Max Miller to name a few.  So, when someone new comes along to do the job of legends, they’re always reminded of the large football shoes they need to fill. They’re not just coaching a high school football team; they’re continuing a legacy that was built on the shoulder pads of heroes. 

In 2019 Marque Willis filled the roll as JV football coach and was highly respected by his young players. Coach Willis was then appointed interim varsity head coach for last year’s Covid-19 shortened 6-game season.  This year he has been handed the head-coaching job on a silver platter tarnished over the years, etched with high expectations. Along side his Sac State football buddy and former Cordova Alum Michael Brannon, Marque and Mike (M&M) are doing what they do best, building a team from the ground up with integrity, respect, responsibility and the love of the game.

Growing up in Stockton, Coach Willis had the luxury of a positive male role model in his father. Unfortunately, Coach Willis lost his dad while in high school, and that’s when he realized the importance of his coaches and lessons learned on the football field.  After graduating from Sac State with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in communication, he went to San Jose State for a master’s degree and a PPS credential in counseling. He started his counseling and coaching career at boys and girls clubs, coaching football at Bret Harte Middle School and basketball at John Muir Middle School. 

After being hired as a counselor at Cordova High, it was a no brainer that he then followed his love for coaching and the ability to connect with the young men on and off the field. “As a counselor and coach, I can be that positive male role model and influence these young men using the game that has given me so much opportunity and skill. This new generation of Big Red football is about creating winners in life and on the field. Great young people, great sons, great brothers, great students, great players, and great contributors to society. Hopefully, the impact of being on this team will allow them to pay it forward in the future for the ones who come after them.” Said Coach Willis.

Coach Willis is very optimistic as he heads into what will be his first full scheduled season as head varsity coach. He has a core crop of talented kids that are eager and willing to do what it takes to help him and his coaching crew have a successful year. He has two talented senior quarterbacks, Jalen Thomas and Jayden Washington, two gifted running backs, senior Dominic Stevens and junior Kevin Lewis, a tough powerful senior tight end/middle line backer, Tristin Hall, a solid senior center/defensive tackle, Michael Karaer, a gifted senior wide receiver/cornerback, Marco Medina Haro, a strong senior defensive end/tight end, Daniel Simonyan and senior Dylan Gray, one of the best wide receiver/free safeties I’ve seen in years.

On Saturday, August 7, Cordova High will host a Black vs. Red scrimmage and a Meet the Lancers Barbeque. The official 2021-22 football schedule gets under way on Friday, August 20, as the Lancers travel to Rosemont High and go up against their cross-town rival Wolverines.