Foothill coach Jon Fox had already built his program up to championship-caliber levels. The Knights’ boys lacrosse team had won five consecutive Orange County and Southern Section titles from 2007-11.
But the past two seasons, Foothill came up short of those title aspirations. The Knights were knocked out in the county semifinals by the eventual champions, Corona del Mar and St. Margaret’s, each time.
“A lot of people said we were only winning early on because we had started (our program) first,” Fox told the Register last month.
Those doubts have sure subsided now. Under Fox’s tutelage, Foothill compiled a 21-1 record and won their first county and section championships since 2011, their sixth of each in the past eight seasons.
Fox’s leadership during the dominating season helped him earn the Register’s 2014 boys lacrosse Coach of the Year honors.
“This was an incredible year. Great group of kids, great group of parents,” Fox said. “Kids that wanted to come work hard, kids that never checked the stat sheet, they just wanted to win … so it was a really fun year.”
Senior Warren Case has pretty much grown up under Fox’s guidance. Case was coached by Fox on the youth levels since sixth grade, and then spent three years on varsity playing for him at Foothill.
“He’s an unbelievable mentor, and just a gifted mind when it comes to lacrosse,” Case said. “He’s been a great leader for me and my teammates.”
When asked for their favorite memories from the past season, both Fox and Case pointed to the county title game against JSerra, which the Knights prevailed in, 12-8.
Case deemed a win in that contest as “necessary” in order to bring the championship trophy back to the program and coach.
“It had been a little too long,” he said.
Knowing Fox’s coaching prowess, it might not be too long before he claims another county crown.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
