Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001 | 10:22 a.m.
As a Mojave assistant coach, Gary Maki saw area football power Cimarron-Memorial -- one of the Rattlers' division rivals -- more times than he'd care to remember during the past five years.
Now, Maki will see the Spartans on a far more regular basis, and this time, he'll relish that opportunity. After 14 years as an assistant in Minnesota and at area schools Basic, Clark and Mojave, Maki has been named the second head coach in Cimarron history.
"I've paid my dues, tried to be the best assistant coach I could be," Maki said. "This year, I really wanted to become a head coach. I'm very excited to get this going."
Maki, 44, takes over a program that has won 33 of 38 games the past three season, capturing back-to-back 4A state titles in 1998 and '99 under coach Greg Spencer, who retired at season's end.
"There will be plenty of pressure to win, and big shoes to fill," Maki said. "But I'm ready for the challenge. I think we can maintain the success and even improve in some areas."
The Spartans return several key players off a 2000 squad that finished the regular season 9-0, including starting tailback Kellen Marshall -- Southern Nevada's co-Offensive Player of the Year -- and starting quarterback Danny Phee.
Maki said he plans to open up the Spartans' passing attack, though he quickly added that Marshall will remain the focal point on offense.
"We won't get away from the running game, but I'd like to keep the defense on their heels," Maki said. "I hope to open up the passing game a little bit, have a little more balance on offense."
Along with Cimarron, three other area schools have filled their head football coaching vacancies: Cheyenne, Eldorado and Sierra Vista, a new school set to open in southwest Las Vegas next year.
The Desert Shields tapped Marcus Sherman, a former BYU player and graduate assistant and a one-time high school assistant coach in California.
"It was the right place at the right time," Sherman, 37, said. "I'm trying to ease my way into it. My first job is to make sure my players are all academically sound."
Sherman played safety at BYU from 1984-87, winning a national championship on 1984's 13-0 Cougars squad. He currently teaches at Opportunity School, part of Clark County's alternative education program.
"His recommendations were stellar," Cheyenne principal Ronan Matthew said. "(Former BYU coach) LaVell Edwards called on his behalf, and gave him an excellent recommendation. He said Marcus was an excellent player and coach."
Eldorado chose longtime Green Valley assistant Dave Castro, a Gators coach since the Henderson school opened in 1991.
"We had strong interest in the position, and we're very happy that he will be our head coach," Sundevils athletic administrator Patrick Macke said. "We feel that he's extremely knowledgeable, very enthusiastic and we think that he can continue the program that has been held here by coach (Ken) Trujillo."
Sierra Vista selected John Racek, head junior varsity coach at Durango. Principal Bill Garis also announced that the school has selected Lions as its nickname, and will feature royal blue and gold uniforms with black trim.
"We narrowed (the coaching job) down to three finalists, and John had the qualities we were looking for," Garis said. "He has a lot of experience, he looks like a good organizer and he's a people person with lots of enthusiasm."
Three area high schools remain without head football coaches: Bishop Gorman, Green Valley and Boulder City. Gorman principal Connie Gerber said last week her school would only consider internal candidates.
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