Took a while, but Sequoia found its man

Turns out the third time was the charm for Schmidt and the Sequoia football team. Since Poulos announced he was stepping down after 15 years running the Ravens’ program, Schmidt has offered three people the job — the first candidate didn’t accept the offer and the second recently stepped down for personal reasons after leading the squad through spring practice.

But Schmidt definitely got it right on the third try, tabbing 2010 Sequoia graduate Frank Mems as the Ravens’ next head coach.

“It was a no-brainer,” Schmidt said. “When [the previous coach stepped down], I offered Frank, like, 45 minutes later.”

Mems knows about being a backup. He was the second-string quarterback during his 2009 senior season, but was immediately pressed into action in the second game of the season against Gonzales when starter James Beekley went down with injury with the Ravens up 14-0.

Mems proceeded to guide Sequoia to a 50-7 win, rushing for 201 yards and five touchdowns on just 14 carries. Mems accounted for more than 1,600 yards of offense and 23 scores — leading the Ravens in rushing with 861 yards and 18 TDs — that 2009 season.

Mems went on to play at West Valley College before wrapping up his college playing career at Hamline College in Minnesota, graduating in 2018.

Coached by Poulos during his high school career, Mems returned to his alma mater for the 2021 COVID spring season and spent two years as the junior varsity offensive coordinator, before moving up to the varsity role two seasons ago. Mems’ previous head coaching experience has been limited to youth football.

Schmidt said Mems would have been an ideal candidate to apply for the job in the first place, but she said he was reluctant. She did not want him leaving the program, however, and he was slated to be the OC again this season with the new coach.

“Initially, I was content (about not applying for the head coaching job),” Mems said. “I was undecided about a lot of things. But coaches from various schools, other alums, were saying, ‘This was your job. If anyone deserved it, it was you.’”

Now he’s sliding over a proverbial chair into the head man spot and Schmidt said she was lucky to have the perfect fallback plan.

“He hesitated to apply (for the head coach position) because he has a young family, that kind of thing. [Poulos] had been training him up (to be a head coach eventually). We all really love him. He’s very well liked and respected here,” Schmidt said. “When it’s June 2 and you suddenly don’t have a football coach, my thing was, we have to go inside now.

“I met with my principal and VP and I said, ‘Look, one of the thing we learned through this process was our community and our traditions are important.’”

When presented with the offer, Mems said he had to talk it over with his family and others close to him. Considering one of his goals was to be a head football coach for his alma mater, everyone knew he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

“You never know when this opportunity will come again,” Mems said. “I always knew coaching was in my future. I knew I wanted to come back and help Sequoia out.”

For Schmidt, it was the best outcome for a chaotic situation. Athletic directors are used to having put out fires and having to find last-minute coaches for minor sports — finding water polo coaches is common headache for ADs on the Peninsula.

But it’s rare to see this kind of roller coaster for a major sport. Schools that hire coaches this late in the preseason — and yes, it is late, considering the summer conditioning starts up soon, along with passing camps and the official start of the season in about two months — usually don’t have a lot of success.

Mems was the common thread between two other candidates and Schmidt is hoping he is the tie that binds the Sequoia program.

“I’ve never solved a problem that big, that quickly,” Schmidt said. “But we didn’t hire Frank because our backs were against the wall. We hired Frank … because he was the right person for the job.”

Schmidt always believed Mems would be the Ravens’ head coach at some point. No time like the present.

“I think we accelerated his timeline,” Schmidt. “And he can’t not call me, ‘Ms. Schmidt.’ It’s so adorable.”

Added Mems: “Definitely a perfect storm. I briefly tried to check out other schools, but the heart was dead set on Sequoia. I would hate to leave and wear another color.

“Did I expect it happen this fast? No. But it’s here.”

Nathan Mollat can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com.