Retiring ECC Football Coach to Be Feted

Longtime El Camino College football head coach John Featherstone, who plans to retire at the end of the 2015 season, will be feted at the final game of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Redondo Union High School’s Sea Hawk Stadium.The game against Long Beach City College begins at 5 p.m.

Community members, alumni, and former student-athletes are invited to celebrate with the renowned coach, whose 30+ years of contributions will be recognized during a special halftime celebration.

A South Bay native, Featherstone has the highest winning percentage of any active coach in the Southern Section of California, which includes 37 community colleges from Bakersfield to San Diego. At the start of the 2015 season, Featherstone’s overall record was 211-112-1.

“I am proud to have known Coach Featherstone since our elementary school days when I had to attempt to tackle him on the playgrounds of Manhattan Beach,” said Bill Beverly, president of the El Camino Community College District Board of Trustees. “He has touched thousands of lives and presided over the building of innumerable young players into better students, athletes and men. John represents all that is best of El Camino College.”

Featherstone coached the ECC Warriors to a National Championship in 1987, in addition to making three national championship game appearances. His teams have also won two state championships, 11 conference championships, and appeared in 19 bowl games.

Featherstone began his affiliation with the ECC football program as a student-athlete (1967-1968), and launched his coaching career in 1985.

He has twice won the Mission Conference Coach of the Year Award and the National Coach of the Year Award; he is an eight-time winner California State Coach of the Year Award; and was inducted into the El Camino College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

Featherstone, who played for Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, was recognized for his offensive prowess as a quarterback, running back and wide receiver, earning All-CIF honors for the Mustangs in 1967. He also played baseball and volleyball, and participated on the track and field team.

Some of the more than 36 players he has coached who went into professional football include: Keith Ellison (LB, Buffalo Bills), DeLawrence Grant (DE, Oakland Raiders), Antonio Chatman (WR, Cincinnati Bengals), Marcel Reece (FB, Oakland Raiders, active), and Derrick Deese (OL, San Francisco 49ers).