Harvard-Westlake football has a new coach, Aaron Huerta, and new feel
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STUDIO CITY – The cross country team was running around the track. Other athletes were doing conditioning workouts on the stadium stairs. Coaches were yelling instructions. It was a sliver of normalcy Monday evening at Harvard-Westlake High.
The energy and atmosphere felt normal, but the feel of the football team seemed different than in years past.
“This is a year-around program now,” first-year football coach Aaron Huerta said.
The sound of weights dropping and barbells clanking stood out, as players finished their weightlifting session behind the south side end zone, a significant change due to COVID-19 — an outdoor weight room.
After weights, it was straight to the field for practice.
“Coach (Huerta) is focused on changing the culture,” senior wideout Chase Harleston said. “He’s brought a sense of purpose and seriousness to the program.”
The Aaron Huerta era has started at Harvard-Westlake. Different culture. Different attitude. Different vision.
“This is a year-around program.” @hwathletics | @hwfootball pic.twitter.com/QsSbrPSQLt
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) March 2, 2021
The program had a different head coach in each of the previous three seasons. Scot Ruggles was the head coach for six years before moving on to UCLA in 2017. Harvard-Westlake then hired Michael Burnett, but Burnett was at the helm for just one year before he abruptly resigned in August 2019. The school made assistant Ramsey Lambert the interim coach, and he led the Wolverines to a 4-6 season.
Huerta was the head coach at Riverside Notre Dame before being hired in January of 2020. His debut season will consist of six games this spring. The Wolverines open their season at home against St. Genevieve on March 12.
Senior quarterback Marshall Howe acknowledges all of the coaching changes have taken a toll at Harvard-Westlake.
“He’s provided consistency,” Howe said of Huerta. “I’ve had many coaches in four years now. It’s been hard for the senior class to build a relationship with the coach.”
Harvard-Westlake linebacker Kanoa Young led the Wolverines in tackles last season. He’s a 5’11, 235-pound senior with a 3.86 GPA that is looking to take advantage of this spring’s 6 games. @hwfootball pic.twitter.com/dnm8NgECm1
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) March 2, 2021
Huerta says his program is small, just 40 players in the program. His motto is W-I-N: Work ethic, Integrity, No excuses.
Kanoa Young, the team’s leading tackler, is embracing the new change, which is coming with higher expectations. He’s up for the challenge.
“The expectations are way higher,” said Young, a 5-foot-11, 235-pound linebacker. “As a team we hold each other to a higher standard, and since we’re committed and willing to work, I think we’re going to see results.”