by 
Daniel Williams is the new football coach at San Manuel.
The San Manuel football team will have its third head coach in as many seasons roaming the sidelines when it opens the 2016 campaign Friday night at home.
New head coach Daniel Williams, whose playing career includes collegiate and professional experience, will make his San Manuel coaching debut against the San Tan Foothills Sabercats.
Williams has extensive coaching experience at the collegiate, semi-pro and high school levels, including most recently at Cholla High School in Tucson, where he served the last three years as the head freshman coach as well the varsity offensive and defensive line coach.
Miners practicing for upcoming season opener against San Tan Foothills. Photo by Brianna Madrid
“I’m very excited about what we’re going to do this year,” Williams told The Miner during a recent phone interview. “We’ve had a pretty good turnout during the summer. We’ve averaged 22 guys all summer long and from what I understand that’s an improvement compared to the last few years. I was ecstatic about their dedication.”
The players have bought into Williams’ program and showed a new level of commitment and dedication to each other by the work they’ve put in. Williams has tried to make the coaching transition as smooth as possible.
Miners practicing for upcoming season opener against San Tan Foothills. Photo by Brianna Madrid
“I didn’t change too much of the program that they already knew,” he said. “I like to ease players into my program by keeping them familiar with the same type of verbiage.”
The Miners’ defense will be one of the team’s strengths this year, according to Williams. Returning two-way starting lineman Antonio Gallego, a senior, will anchor the lines on both sides of the ball. Active linebackers and blitz packages are part of the Miners’ new defensive scheme.
Miners practicing for upcoming season opener against San Tan Foothills. Photo by Pacey Smith-Garcia
Williams believes the running game will be another of his team’s strengths this season.
“I’m not saying we’re not going to pass,” he said. “I’m a coach that believes in setting up the pass with the run.”
Junior quarterback Alejandro Camacho and junior linebackers Christian and Gabe Velasquez, in addition to Gallego, are some of the Miners’ players that Williams believes can impact the team’s success this year.
“The twin Velasquez brothers are beasts at linebacker,” Williams said. “And Christian is a really good running back.”
Miners practicing for upcoming season opener against San Tan Foothills. Photo by Leeza Moreno
Williams was asked what his team needs to do each week to have success.
“Commit,” he responded in one word before expounding. “Fully commit, stay determined and commit to the program, the system and coming to practice.”
The Miners open at home this Friday versus San Tan Foothills, another 2A conference team. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Miners practicing for upcoming season opener against San Tan Foothills. Photo by Brianna Madrid
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
by by