SBVC Football Hires New Coach

San Bernardino Valley College recently announced the addition of new head coach John Shipp to the SBVC football program, who was officially brought on board on July 10. Shipp replaces Kevin Emerson, who helmed the SBVC Football program from 2009 to 2013. During that time, Emerson took SBVC to a Conference Championship and two Bowl games. Shipp brings with him a history of success from high school to community college football, as the one time head coach of the Fountain Valley Barons from 2004-2012 and the former offensive coordinator at Golden West College. Shipp shares that he is excited to embark on this new journey as SBVC's head football coach and has seen the great opportunity that this school has to offer. "It has always been about the opportunity to coach student athletes and support them, to move on, and do the things they want to do in life," he said. When the opportunity came about to come to a college that has been very successful athletically as well as academically he was ready to take the next step. "[SBVC] felt like home, it was a great opportunity to come in here and continue the tradition of success," he said. "The athletic department as a whole plays a huge and vital role in the student body, football can be a huge driving force for a lot of student athletes and their success." As a new head coach he knows that the season ahead will be an interesting and positive transition, looking to continue the tradition of success at SBVC. SBVC opens the season at the Santa Barbara City Vaqueros on September 6. The Vaqueros represent an interesting opponent for SBVC, since they have never faced one another in football. SBVC's first home game will be against the West Los Angeles Wildcats on September 13. The last time that SBVC and the Wildcats faced off was in 2000, when SBVC lost to the then-named West L.A. Oilers, 23-20. Their last non-Conference game has them on the road at Glendale on Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. The Mt. San Jacinto Eagles host SBVC on Sept. 27 to open the American Division-Mountain Conference, with kick off set for 1 p.m. and then SBVC returns home on Oct.4 to face a team they haven't faced in five years, the College of the Desert Roadrunners. In week six, SBVC travels to Victor Valley for their final day game of the season and then on Oct. 25, San Diego Mesa takes the trek north to SBVC with kickoff set for 6 p.m. On Nov.1, Compton travels to SBVC, for the Homecoming game and Sophomore Night festivities, kick off is at 6 p.m. with the final road game against the Southwestern Jaguars on Nov. 8 in Chula Vista. They will be closing the 2014 season with a home game against the East Los Angeles Huskies at 6 p.m.