The 1990’s proved to be a special decade for Culver City High School football. They had a combined record of 81-49 and during that time they produced 10 All-CIF players and a lot of great players that did not make All-CIF. They also had five outstanding coaches during that time.
The 10 All-CIF players were Dannie Kamack, 1991 defensive back, Dameron Ricketts, 1991 defensive back, Chris Ellison, 1992 defensive back, Jasiri Rodell, 1993 wide receiver, Damon Williams, 1993 quarterback, Ellison, 1993 defensive back, Rodell, 1994 wide receiver, Williams, 1994 quarterback, Noe Jamaillo, 1995 all-purpose player and Dovie Reid, 1996 defensive back.
The head Coach in 1990 was Lou Lichtl. He was the head coach from 1988-1992. He coached on the varsity level for six years starting out coaching the offensive and defensive line. “We had a low number of students came out to play during that time, but we did a good job of recruiting students on campus.
“We had some amazing players during the 1990’s and Jahmal (Wright) was one of them,” said Lichtl. “He probably would not boast about it, but he was a really fine athlete. He was a very good football player. He was tenacious and smart, and he played with a great deal of intensity and joy that we loved to see.”
According to Lichtl there were several players on the 1990, 1991 and 1992 teams that played tough hard nose football. “The kids really played for each other. We were a family. We tried to build everything around pride in the community and the school. A lot of our players grew up to be great men.”
Lichtl, who has lived in Thousand Oaks since 1996, says he still keeps up with Culver City football. “I am extremely proud of Jahmal. He is a great mentor and role model for the kids.” Lichtl overall record was 27-21-1.
Robert Moore took over the head coaching job at Culver City High School in 1993 and 1994. His number one assistant coach was his brother, Kevin Moore. Those two seasons the Centaurs went 8-4 in 1993 and 9-2 in 1994.
“That 1993 team was very athletic,” said Kevin Moore. “We had some very dynamic players, and we tried to use their athletic talent according to their capabilities. We had a lot of dominant players like Jahmal Wright and Aki Wilson. We weren’t the biggest guys in the world, but they had the biggest hearts in the world.”
In the Ocean league schools like Morningside and Mira Costa had bigger players. The Centaurs were undersized, but they made up for it with their skilled players and their athleticism according to Kevin Moore.
“We created a family environment,” said Kevin Moore. “They cared about each other on and off the field. The coaches took pride in making sure the players were better people than they were players Our relationships have lasted over 30 years. I am still close to a lot of those players. I still come to several Culver City football games every year. I will be at the game this week (September 12). It was just a special time in our lives, and I think we helped to put Culver City football on the map.”
According to Kevin Moore, Wright, Rodell, Wilson and Williams were the heart and soul of the 1994 team. They played offense, defense and special teams. “We went toe to toe with everybody,” said Kevin Moore.
In 1995 and 1996 Steve Carrol became the head coach and the Centaurs went 4-6 in 1995 and 7-4 in 1996. “Lou Lichtl brought me in to coach at Culver City and at that time he coached the offense, and I was in charge of the defense,” said Carrol.
“When I came to Culver City, I knew they always had a lot of great kids to work with but one of the things we needed was to improve on the strength and conditioning program,” said Carrol. “We also needed better facilities.”
The 1996 team had several outstanding players according to Carrol. Lineman Ralph Oliver, linebacker and kicker Sean Balkman, running back and defensive back Channon Harris, defensive back and wide receiver Sean Butts, quarterback Adan Pulido, wide receiver and defensive back Anthony Thomas, linebacker and running back Alex Ngaue and quarterback and defensive back Dovie Reid. Thomas and Reid are currently on the coaching staff at Culver City. “A lot of the players were hard nose kids, and they were over achievers,” said Carrol. “Adan was a really tough player. We were a running team, and he wanted to pass the ball, but we had him run a lot.”
In 1997 and 1998 Cornell Myles took over the head coaching job. Myles took over the job two games (1-1) into the 1997 season when the head coach was dismissed. He guided the team to a 6-5 record.
The 1998 team had a record of 1-9 but they were one of the best 1-9 teams in high school football that year. That team had two players make it to the NFL, Ryan Riddle, California and the Raiders and Karl Paymah, Washington State and the Vikings.
“We watched those players mature and get better and the next thing you know I am watching them playing football on Saturday (college) and Sunday (NFL),” said Myles.
Other top players on the 1998 team were wide receiver Jason Estaqvez, wide receiver, Robert Jackson and one of the best offensive and defensive lineman in Culver City history, Robert Singerman. He was a Mean Joe Green type of player. That 1998 team also had 10 to 12 outstandings sophomores and juniors that were instrumental in the 1999 team having a rebounding year.
The 1998 team was a carbon copy of their head coach Myles. Never give up and play hard until the last whistle is blown. “The 1997 and the 1998 teams had a lot of talent,” said Myles. “We just happen to play in a league that was loaded from top to bottom but we kept going and we had players that were talented and serious about the game of football. The kids played hard, and they were very aggressive.” Myles has coached football for Culver City High School for the last 30 years.
Throughout the years Coach Myles has been the inspiration leader for not only the football teams but for all the Culver City High School teams. As soon as you walk into the stadium or gym you can hear his voice encouraging the players to give 110 %. When you hear the crowds at the games screaming C-HOUSE, Coach Myles is responsible for that. He started that battle cry years ago.
After the 1998 season Myles experienced one of his proudest accomplishments as a coach. He contacted one of his old players and told him there was an assistant coaching job open at Culver City. That player was current head coach Jahmal Wright. “I called him, and he got the job, and he started in 1999,” said Myles. “The rest is history.”
In 1999 Tom Salter took the reins from Myles and coached the Centaurs for the next 10 years. Salter came from a legendary high school football program at that time, Bishop Amat. “I remember seeing Culver City in the 1994 CIF playoffs and saw that that they had good players,” said Salter. “When I got the job, I brought some film home of Culver City, and I showed it to my dad, and he was impressed with Culver City football players although they 1-9 in 1998.”
What Salter did not realize was he was inheriting a very good group of seniors, juniors and sophomores. “We had some experience players, but we also had a lot of newcomers. It was such a good group of players.”
Some of the key players from that 1999 team were Mike Ashford, Marcus Baines, Danny Bower, Michael Dione, Janard Hunter, Karl Paymah, Cameron Phillips, Jubal Thomas, Devaughn Wallace, Donte Williams, Stuart Wright Jason Nix and Gary Mundy.
“When we started team workouts, I was a little worried because some of the kids said they could not get to the school at 6 a.m. but they showed up,” said Salter. The rest is history. The Centaurs rebounded and finished the season 6-5, making the playoffs. They played Upland on the road in the first round of the playoffs. They were beaten by Upland and guess who the head coach of Upland was. Salter’s brother.
“I was fortunate to inherit a very good coaching staff with coaches like Myles,” said Salter. “Coach Myles was the one who brought in Jahmal. Jahmal is one of the best coaches and people I have ever worked with. Culver City is so lucky to have him. He is so well respected in the CIF circles. What he has done is truly amazing.
“My first year at Culver City I realized coach Myles was a great motivator and other coaches like Jarvis Redwine did a great job. It was just a great group of coaches. One of the coaches, Greg Goodyear, recruited me to coach at Culver City.
“I remember taking the players to UCLA games and sitting in the stands telling Karl Paymah that he would become a great football player,” said Salter. “Some of my fondest memories of that 1999 team was helping the players tie their ties before first period. Also, I will never forget when we won our first game that year the players were so happy they threw Gatorade on me.”