Costa football has two more games left in the regular season, and each win matters, especially for head coach Don Morrow. After leading the Mustangs since 1993, Morrow is now just two victories away from breaking the South Bay record for most career wins. He currently has 287 victories, his most recent coming from Costa’s win over Culver City on Oct. 10, putting him closer than ever to the milestone.
The record of 289 wins is held by Gene Vollnogle, who coached at Carson and Banning High Schools. If Costa defeats Leuzinger tonight and Palos Verdes next Friday, Morrow could tie and then surpass the record, securing his place among the most accomplished coaches in Southern California high school football history. However, for Morrow, the record is not the most important part of his coaching career.
“What’s always the hope at this time of year, especially for all of the great seniors who have been in the program forever, is to get to the playoffs,” Morrow said. “If we can have success and get some playoff games for those guys, that’s the ultimate goal.”
Under Morrow’s leadership, Costa has built a reputation for discipline, tradition, and a strong team culture. Many former players have gone on to play college or even professional football and often credit Morrow for shaping them both as athletes and as people. He explained that his pride comes more from the impact and consistency of the program over time.
“The parents, the booster clubs, and the teachers have given so much support to our guys over the years, and of course our coaching staff,” Morrow said. “Ultimately, the people that are responsible for the number of wins are the players. That’s what it all means to me: continuity and consistency over the years.”
Leave a Reply