A Push to Honor ‘Coach’ with Stadium Renaming
Trojan Sports Hall of Fame legend John Brosnan could have his legacy literally set in stone if a committee being assembled this month approves to add his name to Castro Valley High School Trojan Stadium.
The Castro Valley Unified School District Board of Education is asking for volunteers, “to join a diverse group of individuals with different areas of interest and expertise in Castro Valley history” to apply for the Naming Committee. The committee is expected to review a request to name the Castro Valley High School Stadium after Brosnan.
If interested, you are encouraged to apply by completing a form at https://www.cv.k12.ca.us/CVHS-Stadium-NamingCommittee/
“Per Board Policy 7310, Naming of Facility, the Board encourages community participation in the process of selecting names,” a district spokesperson said. “An advisory committee shall be appointed to review name suggestions and submit recommendations for the Board's consideration.”
The goal of the naming committee is to provide an equitable process for community members to review the nomination of John Brosnan to be honored through naming a part of our school district in his honor.
The application closes on October 13.
“The committee provides a process for the review of the merits of the nominee, and to recommend to the Board the appropriate way to honor the nominee that is in alignment with the school district's motto of ‘All means All,’” according to the application site instructions.
Coach’s Legacy
“Coach”—as he was known around Castro Valley—passed away in September 2020 after a short illness.
Brosnan was born on December 22, 1934, in Oakland. He attended St Elizabeth High School in Oakland where he met his wife, Maureen. Upon graduation, he joined the army and served in South Korea. After the army, he attended San Francisco State University on the GI bill where he played on the 1962 championship baseball team.
He graduated with a master’s degree in physical education and started teaching PE at Castro Valley High School in 1963 and then practically lived there. He retired in 1994. He coached varsity football for his entire teaching career; it was his favorite thing.
“His grandfather told him, ‘You can't make a living playing football,’ and that was all the motivation a stubborn kid needed,” his daughter Susan recalled.
In addition to coaching football, Brosnan served as the Trojans' athletic director from 1980 to 1994. He was the school’s golf coach for seven years, the Junior Varsity Baseball coach for eight seasons, and the Boys Varsity Baseball coach for one season (1970). He was twice named North Coast Section (NCS) Athletic Director of the Year (1984 and 1988).