It will be interesting to see the results of new football coaches in the East Valley after the smoke clears in early November. The outcomes of coaches taking over existing programs are generally mixed in that initial season.

When Jim Rattay took over at Mesa High in the mid 1980's, the Jackrabbits struggled his first year at 1-9. Rattay had a tough time getting to town from Ohio in the transition. Got a very late start. That didn't help the Jackrbbits get off quickly. The next year Mesa made the playoffs and reached the semifinals. In 1990 Mesa was state champs again.

Tom Joseph took over at Mountain View in 2002 and a 14-0 record and state title ensued. Mountain View bowed out the year before in the semifinals. Similar result for Steve Belles when he took over Hamilton in 2006. The Huskies were state-runners-up in 2005. Belles piloted Hamilton to a 13-1 mark and a state title his first year.

Here's a thumbnail sketch of how 10 current coaches fared in their first season at an existing school with the accompanying record of that team the season before:

Bernie Busken at Basha High -- Record in 1st year (2010) -- 9-2; Basha record in 2009 -- 8-4; Dan Dunn at Gilbert High -- Record in 1st year (2009) -- 4-6; Gilbert record in 2008 -- 7-4; Jeremy Hathcock at Desert Ridge High -- Record in 1st year (2006) -- 4-7; Desert Ridge record in 2005 -- 2-8; Dan Hinds at Desert Vista High -- Record in 1st year (2002) -- 9-2; Desert Vista record in 2001 -- 9-3; Alex Jacobson at Dobson High -- Record in 1st year at Dobson (2009) -- 2-8; Dobson record in 2008 -- 5-6; Roy Lopez at Marcos de Niza High -- Record in 1st year (2005) -- 3-8; Marcos de Niza record in 2004 -- 3-7; Greg Mendez at Westwood High -- Record in 1st year (2008) -- 2-9; Westwood record in 2007 -- 7-6; Kelley Moore at Mesa High -- Record in 1st year (2007) -- 6-5; Mesa record in 2006 (9-4); Norris Vaughan at Mountain Pointe High -- Record in 1st year (2009) -- 12-1; Mountain Pointe record in 2008 -- 2-8; Pete Wahlheim at Highland High -- Record in 1st year (2007) -- 4-6; Highland record in 2006 -- 6-5.

The scorecard of these 10 coaches shows four improved over their predecessor. Six fell short. Here are the marks seven new coaches in the East Valley are dealing with:

Shaun Aguano, Chandler -- 2010 record under Jim Ewan -- 7-4; Chad DeGrenier, Mesa Mtn. View -- 2010 under Tom Joseph  -- 5-6; Matt Gracey, Mesquite -- 2010 under Mike Reardon -- 9-3; Tom Joseph, Corona del Sol -- 2010 under Zane Zamenski -- 1-10; Matt Lewis, McClintock -- 2010 under Mike Gibbons -- 2-8; Justin McDonald, Apache Junction -- 2010 under Rich Milligan -- 5-6; Eddy Zubey, Higley -- 2010 record under Jim Beall -- 6-6.