MIDDLETOWN — As Moke Simon III sees it, he has some big shoes to fill as Middletown coach Bill Foltmer”s defensive coordinator, replacing Jim Garrett.
“My biggest challenge?” he pondered. ” … Working for a legend. “Jimmy and Foltmer have been very successful together. I”m lucky to be walking into something special. I think these two guys will be remembered in this town together.”
But Simon already fills some really big shoes. Physically, the man is a quasi-giant who in his high school, college and professional playing years could intimidate just by standing up.
And what other assistant coach doubles as chief of a tribal council, as Simon once was for the Pomas at Twin Creek.
Simon was a junior varsity coach for four years before unofficially moving into the varsity play-calling slot last season when the Mustangs were league champions with an overall 10-2 record and earned a berth in the semifinals of the North Coast Section playoffs.
“I”m very proud to have Moke, with all his football accomplishments, on our staff,” said Foltmer. “He”s a true Middletown boy. He grew up here, played football in our youth and high school program.”
Foltmer remembered Simon as a star middle linebacker and offensive guard on a title team in the 1989 season. He was also the Mustang punter and field goal kicker and earned All-League, All-County and All-Redwood Empire honors.
“He was a dominating player … big (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) and muscular and then he had that Mohawk haircut,” he said. “Nobody ran inside the tackles on us.”
Simon, a 1990 MHS graduate, played in an era when the Mustangs could suit up only 18 players and only 13 who could actually play. Inspired to play college football by an upper classman named G.J. Rockwell, he easily made the team at Butte Junior College, where he was All-Conference and All-State.
Transferring to Texas A&M-Kingsville, he was a College All-American. He played for Barcelona in the World Football League and retired from playing in 1996.
