Send a text

The Rajahs have waited three decades to feel this kind of buzz—and we’re ready to say it out loud: the turnaround starts now. We sit down with Coach Doc, who left a nine‑year run at Xavier Prep to lead Indio with a bold, simple plan: close the borders, rebuild the trenches, and make staying home the obvious choice for Indio families.

We dig into why Indio was the right fit and how Principal Monica Rodriguez and Shipley pitched a vision bigger than football: a surging city, a massive alumni base, and a campus built to compete. Doc lays out the on‑field identity—physical offensive line, fast defense, and detailed habits that show up in alignment, assignments, and special teams. He spotlights returning talent, from a maturing QB to real speed outside, and explains how the staff blends young former D1 athletes teaching on campus with veteran mentors who lead beyond the game.

Rivalries and structure matter, too. We talk Bell game history, the Mayor’s Cup pause, and why stepping back to calibrate before stepping into marquee matchups can pay off. The new tiered league system gets a thoughtful breakdown on how it supports organic growth, smarter scheduling, and healthier programs. Then we go deeper: reclassing for maturity and academics, what college recruiting looks like in the NIL era, and an honest take on transfers—why freedom and fit often serve kids better than restrictive rules, and why consistent standards across regions would level the playing field.

If you care about Indio football, this conversation is your blueprint: keep local talent, connect the youth pipeline, lead from the weight room, and celebrate a proud tradition while building something modern and tough. Subscribe, share with a fellow Rajah, and leave a review telling us the first rivalry you want back on the schedule.