The562’s coverage of football in 2024-25 is sponsored by The Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
The Travis Clark era is officially underway.
The Wilson Bruins are hosting Portola on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the first game under their new coach.
“It’s always going to be a challenge, something I’ve expected, but it’s been an amazing experience,” Clark said. “It’s a wonderful group of kids here at Wilson.”
Portola is a good opening matchup for Wilson with just one winning season in the last four years. The Bulldogs finished last season on a four-game losing streak.
Wilson hasn’t reached the postseason in five years, going 9-20 and 5-12 in the Moore League since the shortened COVID season. Clark brings some valuable experience after spending the last nine of his 22 years of coaching at Lawndale where he won a Division 5 CIF-SS and Division II CIF State title in 2018 while being named CIF-SS Coach of the Year.
Clark is also bringing a very recognizable assistant coach in DeSean Jackson. The Long Beach Poly alum and former NFL Pro Bowl receiver is a long-time friend of Clark, who he calls, “An older brother and a mentor.”
“For me, I’m a Poly alum, but that doesn’t mean I can’t teach or go help other programs and school,” Jackson said. “I’m a Jackrabbit at heart all the time, but my calling right now is to help the Wilson Bruins.”
Jackson is hoping to help retuning quarterback Mack Cooper and returning receivers like Maxwell Barbee get the Bruins going.
“This harder culture (from new coaches) is kind of pushing a lot of kids who maybe didn’t see themselves playing football this year really loving the game and making themselves better,” Cooper said. “More guys are doing stuff at home, outside of practice, and that’s making the program better.”
