Mesa Mountain View head coach Joe Germaine’s football career has come full circle.
Germaine grew up in the area of Brown Road and Gilbert Road cheering on the Toros.
He then donned the Mountain View uniform for his high school career as a quarterback helping the Toros to a 13-1 record and a State Championship in 1993.
Germaine went on to lead the Ohio State Buckeyes to the 1997 Rose Bowl over Arizona State and played four years in the NFL where he was with the St. Louis Rams when they won the Super Bowl in 2000.
🌹🏟️ #TBT to 1997:
Rose Bowl MVP Joe Germaine came off the bench to lead @OhioStateFB over Arizona State. In the final minutes, he found David Boston from 5 yards out, giving the Buckeyes the 20-17 win!
🏈 https://t.co/5mIEuY8rVh#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/soSNOEo1UU
— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) December 27, 2018
After his playing career wrapped up, Germaine returned to Arizona.
He became head coach at Queen Creek High School in 2010 when the school opened.
He was head coach from 2010 to 2012 and led the Bulldogs to the State Title in 2012.
He stepped back from his head coaching duties for a period before returning to the helm in 2019.
Watch it now: 40 Years of Arizona High School Football
After two seasons back as head coach for Queen Creek, the opportunity to return to his alma mater arose.
Mountain View got a new principal this school year in Mike Oliver and it was Oliver’s vision for the Toros that influenced the move.
“(Oliver) expressed his vision for the school, the academic side of things, the new approach he’s taken to learning for our school and also his support and vision for our athletic programs, specifically the football program, that’s the reason I made the decision to come over,” Germaine said.
NEXT GENERATION OF GERMAINE
Germaine’s son Jack is seeing time at quarterback for the Toros this season.
Last week in Mountain View’s game against Mountain Pointe Jack got his first Varsity start.
The sophomore completed 11 of 12 passes for 255 yards and five touchdowns. Five of his passes were for 25 plus yards.
“It’s awesome seeing Jack wear the same uniform that I wore,” Germaine said. “He’s excited about being at Mountain View and understands the great tradition this school has.”
Great pass by @jackgermaine10 to @ReeseMarziale10. TD Toros. 22-0 11:53 to go 2Q pic.twitter.com/BPB7Ukdn1B
— Toro Nation (@MVToro_Football) October 23, 2021
Germaine acknowledged that what Mountain View means to him is different from what it means to Jack because Jack grew up around Queen Creek football.
“That’s all he ever knew, so for him to leave was really difficult,” Germaine said. “He’s handled it great. The school and the players have been awesome for him and it’s fun seeing him get some experience.”
Separating the ‘Dad’ role from the ‘Coach’ role has been a challenge, Germaine said.
“To be honest, I’m still trying to figure it out. I wanna do a good job with it, but I think we have a great relationship and we know and respect each other enough to know that nothing is personal. I love him more as a son than a player.”
Jack is already coming in to his own at quarterback, but his Dad isn’t quick to make comparisons between the two of them.
“It’s such a different day and age where he’s playing compared to when I played,” Germaine said. “I think he’s much farther along at this point in his football life than I was. That’s really neat to see.”
Read more: Desert Vista visits Mountain View in 6A matchup
TORO TRADITION
Being back at Mountain View in the role of head coach has brought back a certain nostalgia for Germaine.
“I turn around and I look at our scoreboard that says ‘Jesse Parker Field’ and that’s who I played for,” Germaine said. “He’s one of the all-time great coaches and great men. I think of coaches like him coming through here and what he did, what he established. It’s an awesome place.”
Mountain View boasts eight State Championships which is the most in big school state history.
Parker was head coach for four of those.
This season, Mountain View is 6-1. They are currently seeded at No. 5 in the 6A playoff predictions.
Germaine hopes that starting with this first season as head coach he can continue to carry on the tradition that was begun by those that came before him.
“When I look at the Mountain View logo, that speaks to me,” Germaine said. “Mountain View teams, the way I remember them being as a player and before I even played there, and after, Mountain View always prided themselves on being a hard nosed, tough team.
“They were always a mentally tough and physically tough football team. I hope and like to think that’s what we’re trying to build here.”
The Desert Vista Thunder (3-4) take on the Mesa Mountain View Toros (6-1) in our GameTime Arizona featured matchup – Friday, Oct. 29 at 7:00 pm MT/9:00 pm CT.
