The Friday Night Life

#028.  I have a special connection with Mark and Julie. Mark was my first boss coming out of college. He hired me in 1994 at Ayala HS, and I served under him for 3 three years before I had to go get a teaching contract in another District. In those years, we went to the CIF Division 2 Finals twice! I was spoiled to be a part of a staff that had multiple former head coaches on it, including my Dad and mentor, Laing Stevens. We were very successful because the men understood Mark's vision for greatness, and combined that with some outstanding talent, and we were good to go. And here we are, 26 years later, back at it again together on the same staff. 

Mark and Julie have a wonderful adoption story that they share with us, and a full family life that has kept them very busy for their entire careers. They also share the good and not-so-good times during the seasons, and Mark's career change to become an administrator for a few years, before he transitioned back to the classroom and the football field where he finish his career.

If you would like to contact Coach Pasquarella, his email is:

[email protected]

#027. Aaron Masden played his High School Football at La Crosse Central HS, La Crosse, WI. He was a college RB at Luther College (NCAA DIII), Decorah IA and  at the University of Thomas (NCAA DIII), St. Paul MN. He is the current Head Football Coach at Spring Mountain HS. He has a very impressive resume', but that only begins to scratch the surface of what he and his wife, Jody have done to the culture of not only that football program, but all the boys in the facility itself.

That's right...Spring Mountain HS is not your average high school. It is a rehabilitation center for young men who made some bad choices. Aaron and Jody are Juvenile Probation Officers and together have changed lives for the better in a very tough situation. Here is an article about Spring Mountain HS and a very tough time that The Masden's went through with one of their players: Spring Mountain grieves death of star QB | Las Vegas Review-Journal

Here are some of Coach Masden's accomplishments:

2009, 2010, 2011 - Nevada 1A Southern League Coach of the Year

2016 NevadaPreps/Las Vegas Review Journal All-State Football COY (All Divisions)

2018 NevadaPreps/Las Vegas Review Journal All-State Football COY (All Divisions) 

2019 NevadaPreps/Las Vegas Review Journal State HS Coach of the Year (Overall - All Divisions/All Sports)

10 Championships - 1 League (2018), 7 Regional (2012-2014, 2016-2019), 2 State Titles (2016 & 2018)

Jody herself is an accomplished Division 1 softball player. She was born and raised in Las Vegas, and has returned after college to reside and do her work along side Aaron. Here are some of Jody's accomplishments:

High School Softball standout at Bishop Gorman HS. Went to college at Wichita State (NCAA DI) where she was League MVP  and Team Record Holder. She now is a great HS Football Team Mom and has worked at Spring Mountain HS 2012-Present. Aaron is quoted as saying, "She is the best partner, support, fundraiser, and season surrogate mom a coach could ever want.”

Here is an article that came out spotlighting Jody and her love for her job and those kids: Jody Lupo Masden: Saving lives, one at a time in Southern Nevada — W.G. Ramirez

Jody's Instagram: @paytonthetown

#026. Coach Coco started coaching football at the Pop Warner level in 1980. As a coach, Coco learned early that a coach is as good as the players that he coaches. In 1980, Coco was fortunate to coach a team blessed with talent with 7 players going on to play major college football. The 1980 team went on to post a 15-0 record and a midget division state championship and a mythical National Championship. Coach Coco has had the honor to have coached three teams in three different levels to state titles with the latter being at Mt. SAC in 1997 where they also won a National Title.

​Coach Coco, not only has been blessed with good players, he has been surrounded by good quality coaches. In high school his head coach was Dave Lay who would go on to become offensive coordinator at San Diego State and Colorado State. While coaching at Sweetwater High school Coco was fortunate to coach under Gene Alim and learn from the likes of Stanford great Dave Tipton. While coaching at Southwestern College, Coco was influenced by Dan Underwood who played at Michigan State and coached at Arizona State and San Diego State. Coco believes that to be a good coach, one has to incorporate the qualities of others, while still being himself. While at Mt. SAC, Coach Coco once again found himself surrounded by quality coaches led by the late great  Coach Bill “Mountie Bill” Fisk.

​Coach Coco, has coached numerous players that have gone on to become coaches, 71 and still counting. Coco feels that as a coach, it is his duty to give back to the coaching community in the form of clinics and seminars. Coco has become a resource for many coaches in the coaching community. He wants to share football to the world and has reached new heights with the creation of social media and the website

www.Takeaknee.com.
Twitter:  @TAKCoachCoco
Instagram:  @Takeakneecoco

Wife: Robin Lynn (35 years). 

Sons: Joshua Andre, Jonathan Albert, daughter-n-law Jackie

Three Grandchildren: Jade Soigne’e, Jonathan Albert Jr., and Jewel Soleil. 

#025. Corinne and I had the privilege of traveling to Nashville, Tennessee this January for the AFCA Convention. The bad news was the convention was cancelled due to lockdowns. The good news was I still got to sit around and talk football with some great men and coaches. The great news was I recorded our conversations for you!

Rob Griffing, Danny Faulkenstein, Aaron Masden and I got talk about our 2020 year and look ahead to 2021 and what lies in store for these coaches. We also watched the NCAA National Championship game between Alabama and Ohio State, and then go "Tuesday morning QB" and talk about it and voice our thoughts. Do you agree with our assessment? Disagree? let us know in the comments.

It was a most memorable trip to spend some time in a different part of the country with these great people. Special thanks to Cynthia Griffing (President of the American Football Coaches Wives Assoc.) for allowing us to tag along with her and the other Board members (Dalise Falkenstien and Jodi Masden).

#024. Coach DeChon Burns is the Head Football Coach at Linfield Christian HS (Temecula, CA). He has coached at every level (see below), and has worked with some HOF coaches and athletes. In this episode, he takes us inside his childhood and playing sports was an "all-the-time" thing.

Listen how he reminisces about his Father and the legacy he left for DeChon and his grandchildren. Hear how DeChon carries that legacy into his children.

He also shares about how proud he is of his son as he has since graduated college, and is going to take his hot at the NFL. Interesting note is that Coach Burns did not want to coach his own kids...but that was not in cards.

And finally, he imparts some very good words of wisdom to all young coaches who are looking to become head coaches.  "A father, a coach that loves sports, and dedicated to making aa difference in the lives he comes in contact with". Enjoy!

Instagram: @dbusc26
Twitter: @dburns26

• Attended Rubidoux High School (Class of ‘88) where he was a three-year varsity football starter as running back and defensive back. A four-sport varsity letterman.
• University of Southern California (class of ‘93) DB
• Beverly Hills High School
• Bishop Amat High School 
• University of Florida
• Washington Redskins Asst. D-line/Special Teams (Hall of Famers: Bruce Smith, Darrell Green, and Champ Bailey)
• San Francisco 49ers 
• Philadelphia Eagles 
• Texas Southern University 
• University of Texas at El Paso 
• UFL Sacramento Lions 

#023.  Justin is a QB Coach at his Alma Mater El Molino High School in Sonoma County, in Northern California.  He is also a  QB Coach at Ground Force Quarter Back Acadmey.  Haley is a substitute teacher in the school district and is a swim coach as well.  They have their own podcast called "The Price of Avocado Toast" where they help young people with their finances. They have a very compelling testimony on how they started this journey while learning some very valuable life lessons along the way.

We talk about how they met, their careers, and how they have been navigating through this unprecedented time in our state. All the while raising their beautiful daughter, with another child on the way! Big congrats to the happy couple!

Twitter: @PriceAvocado
Justin's Twitter
Ground Force Quarterback Academy: @GFQACoach
Apple Podcast:  The Price of Avocado Toast
Instagram : @thepriceofavocadotoast
Haley's Instagram
Justin's Instagram

#022. We have a great episode to share with you!  I had the opportunity to talk with Peyton Erickson.  I had been following her for sometime on social media.   She’s a banker, beach body coach, a fellow coach’s wife and also the host of her own podcast called The Coach’s wife Playbook podcast.  She’s married to Spencer Erickson who is an Assistant Defensive Line coach and director of player personnel at South Dakota State.  She and I had a great conversation talking about the Bliss and Blisters of this football married life.  Almost to the point where she wasn’t sure she was going to marry Spencer.  Our conversation is honest and real.  And though Peyton may have had her doubts she shares how she and Spencer overcame those relationship hurdles and found that marital bliss together. 

Coach's Wife🏈 💍
Coach's Wife Playbook Podcast🎙
Vacation Mover📦
Dog Mommy🐾
Believer in Christ ✝️

Find Peyton: linktr.ee/peyton.erickson11

Beach Body Coach! (click here to go to her website)

#022. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! 2020 has been one for the books, and can be viewed as forgettable. A lot has happened, and a  lot of people have had traumatic experiences that have radically altered the course of their lives. From death, to loss of businesses, to political divide.

Our focus and goal in this episode is to bring you a change in your perspective and uplift and encourage you with our story. We talk about what we are thankful for in this 2020 year.  Also our how we are thankful for our journey of Infertility and now that we have 11 year old Triplets.  The condition of your heart can change your outlook on life. And if ever there was a time, now is that time. Please know, that our story is personal and unique, and may not apply to you and your life. But, the lessons learned through our journey can be applied to every aspect of life. 
Please make sure to SUBSCRIBE and leave a REVIEW!!! We appreciate all your support and input on our podcast. 

Where you can find us...
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EMAIL:   [email protected]  
We would love to hear from you!  Questions, comments or story suggestions are always welcome.  Feel free to reach out.

#021. Our first "Overtime edition" with Dominic and Adriana Farrar. We had so much great content in our conversation with Dominic and Adriana, that we felt to leave anything out would be a disservice to their family and the extended village of The Farrar Family and The Charter Oak Football Family.

So is an extra 20 minutes or so, of Dominic and Adriana talking about relationships and their village and how important it is to have that support system, and why it makes it so special.

Charter Oak Football on Twitter: @COHSFootball

The Friday Night Life:
Instagram: @thefridaynightlife
Facebook: The Friday Night Life
Twitter: @thefnlpodcast
Website: www.thefridaynightlife.com

#020.  in this episode, Corinne and I got to talk with Dominic and Adriana Farrar. Dominic is currently the Head Football Coach at Charter Oak HS (Covina, CA). He and Adriana have three kids: Louis (20), Vincent (17), and Sophia (12). Dominic has an impressive resume'...

• 25+ years in the District.
• Co-founded an educational award-winning program Odyssey. 
• 10 years Psychology teacher and Athletic Director at Charter Oak High School
• Coached football there since 1990. 
• Served as Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator for over 20 years. 
• 19 league championships, 26 CIF playoff appearances, 4 CIF championships, 4 CIF Finalists, and 5 Semi Finalist teams.  
• Mentor Teacher in the BTSA Induction Program, has taught parent education classes for Tri-Community Adult Education. 
• President of the Foothill Citrus Athletic Directors Association

But, his biggest accomplishment, and one that has molded and shaped his teaching and coaching career, is being the son of legendary high school football coach, Lou Farrar. Before Lou passing from his battle with leukemia, he amassed over 300 wins, and 39 years of his 50 year coaching career was spent at Charter Oak HS (where he also went to school and met his future bride, Nancy).

Dominic and Adriana share their personal story of how they met and got together, and their journey along side his parents Lou and Nancy. One thing that everyone will take away from this episode is that RELATIONSHIPS is the key to their success on and off the field.

Charter Oak Football on Twitter: @COHSFootball

The Friday Night Life:
Instagram: @thefridaynightlife
Facebook: The Friday Night Life
Twitter: @thefnlpodcast
Website: www.thefridaynightlife.com