MIDDLETOWN — Bill Foltmer and Jim Garrett. They”ve been like bookends. The books were the football seasons that the two coaches — Foltmer as head coach and Garrett as defensive coordinator — co-authored at Middletown. Twenty-two autumns in all, including 15 league champions.
The best was 1991 when the Mustangs ascended to the No. 1 ranking in the state in the old Division B.
“They were all good years. I don”t think of it in terms of high or low points,” said Foltmer.
Foltmer and Garrett were waxing nostalgic because of an impending change this coming season. Garrett will step down and be replaced by Moke Simon, a native of Middletown who was an “all-everything” player for Foltmer. The change has been made without fanfare. Simon actually called the defensive sets last year. His appointment to defensive coordinator makes it official.
Garrett, as well as being Foltmer”s right-hand man, is his best friend. Their families vacation together. Garrett is godfather to Bill”s two children. So, it is a particularly heavy exit door. So heavy, in fact, that it is not being totally closed.
“It”s not like I”m totally gone,” Garrett said. “But after 22 years it”s time to start doing a few other things. Travel a little maybe. My kids are all grown. My youngest is in law school, so I want to spend a little more time with her before she moves away to God knows where.”
So, Garrett will maintain a diminished presence, assisting Foltmer when he can take time away from his real estate appraisal business.
“I love it … I”ll still do it; I”ll be an extra set of eyes and ears for Bill, but I just got the feeling that I”m not able to put in enough time,” he said.
“He”ll still be on the sidelines. I won”t let him walk away,” said Foltmer.
“Jim”s strength is calling a defensive game on game day, mixing up defensive fronts and coverages makes it tough on opposing offenses, and Jim is excellent at it. He took pride in making sure his ?D” line didn”t get trapped and players were well-schooled on defending the option. His longevity as a coach for 22 years gives our program great continuity and consistency.”
The two coaches sat in Middletown”s Mount St. Helena restaurant, which Garrett once owned. Before that, Garrett”s pizza parlor was the place where his and Foltmer”s phenomenal 22-year relationship began.
Foltmer remembered that he and his assistant coaches would confer over a post-practice beer and would be joined by Garrett.
“He was a very friendly guy,” Foltmer said. “He played with a guy (at Cal Poly-SLO) who played with me at Chico State. He knew football and I decided I wanted him working for me. So right off the bat I said, ?I got a spot open. Would you like to help me out?””
From that moment, Garrett became a “go-to” guy for the Mustang coach. A “whadayathink guy” would be more apt. Foltmer often asked Garrett”s opinion of a play he was considering.
“Yeah, Bill asked me what I liked on third-and-30 a lot,” quipped Garrett.
More thoughtfully he continued: “In the early years, we coached our asses off and didn”t win. But I got to do a job that I really liked with one of my best friends. We were friends when we started and we”ll be friends long after we”re done.”
The two men reflected on the teams and the times they had together. Garrett”s fondest memory is of the undefeated 2001 Mustangs, a team his son played on.
“All of his friends who I had known since they were little bitty tikes were on that team, too,” he said. “You watch what they go through and when they succeed, it makes you feel good, too.”
They remembered a year when they were able to dress only 14 players and the 1997 Mustangs as a group of “over-achievers.”
“They had a small line, but they worked real hard,” Foltmer says with a trace of pride. “We ended up winning the (sectional) championship that year. It was a team that played good football at the right time of the season.”
The only time they recalled when Foltmer questioned Garrett”s defensive play-calling was a game in which the Mustangs were holding off St. Vincent in the shadow of the uprights.
“I called a ?suicide,” which is a safety blitz up the middle,” Garrett remembered. “After calling it twice successfully, I figured they”re not going to do that again. So, I called a blitz from the side. Dang kid throws a pass for TD. I thought they were going to run an option, which is what I”d have done.”
Foltmer”s reaction at the time … “Hey, don”t call that again!” But he added, “It”s only a bad call when it doesn”t work. There have been a few times when I”d like to have a call back.”
The two coaches agreed ? for 22 years they have been blessed with a parade of talented players.
“It”s the kids,” said Foltmer. “You can”t take a mule to the Kentucky Derby and win.”
Each season had its heroes. They came and went.
“I remember almost all of them,” said Garrett. “There have been so many. I kind of hate to just mention a few.”
