Tempe Corona del Sol football coach Gary Venturo, the longest active head football coach in the East Valley, said Monday he will resign on Tuesday after guiding the Aztecs 23 seasons.

After last week’s disappointing loss to Gilbert, Tempe Corona del Sol coach Gary Venturo knew his defense needed to step up for the Aztecs’ home opener against Scottsdale Desert Mountain.

After losing its final two regular season games, eighth-seeded Tempe Corona del Sol came roaring back with a 57-26 victory over visiting Laveen César Chavez Friday in the first round of the 5A-I state playoffs.

He may be two generations ahead of his players, but don’t say Gary Venturo won’t act their age.

Outlook: These days, it’s a revolving door in the Central Region for Tucson.

Address: 2820 W. Rose Garden Lane, Phoenix

Key matchup: Dobson’s improved defense must contain slippery running back J.R. Hamm, who will see plenty of carries for Corona.

Corona del Sol football coach Gary Venturo grabbed a grease pencil and began to write on the bulletin board in the Aztecs' locker room.

Outlook: Coach Tony Tabor is off to a good start in trying to resurrect a downtrodden program at Desert Mountain.

Outlook: Gilbert’s opener was the kind coach Jesse Parker craves.

Tempe Corona del Sol was on a roll until the final two weeks of the season, when a series of injuries sideswiped its 2006 playoff appearance.

Tempe Corona del Sol controlled both sides of the line and shut down one of the state's most explosive running backs as the Aztecs defeated Phoenix Mountain Pointe 23-14 on Friday in 5A Central Region play.

October 30, 2004

October 2, 2004

Forget the playoffs. There’s one week of regular season football left for a team to prove itself, and a rivalry game, to boot.

Corona del Sol football coach Zane Zamenski has been “assigned to home” by the Tempe Union High School District while allegations of inappropriate comments toward players are being investigated, according to a district spokesperson.

They are usually a good or above average team. Occasionally they are great.

Playing at home on homecoming night was just about the only good field position Phoenix Mountain Pointe could muster against Tempe Corona del Sol in a key 5A Central Region match-up Friday Night.

Little things haunted Tempe Corona del Sol last year. A couple of early-season injuries. A clipping penalty here. A dropped kick there.

CORONA DEL SOL

Top-seeded Mesa Mountain View hasn’t faced a formidable foe since mid-October and faced only a couple all season. That drought of championship-caliber foes is done beginning tonight as the Toros host No. 8 seed Tempe Corona del Sol in a 5A Division I state quarterfinal battle at Toro Stadium.

Outlook: Corona is on a roll. It doesn’t look pretty at times, but just enough offense and an improving defense has Gary Venturo’s team tangled with the rest of the Central Region at 3-1.