Menlo College football coach Speckman resigns

By Nadia Le’i, Oak Staff

Photo courtesy of MercuryNews.com

Where one door closes, another is opened. For head coach, Mark Speckman, the Menlo College Football Program door closed after he accepted a contract with Canadian Professional Football Team, the Montreal Alouettes.   

    

Born without hands, Speckman upended the standards of football and inspired many as he made his way to the top as a linebacker, playing for Menlo from 1973-74. He continued his college football career at Azusa Pacific University where he earned honorable mention for All-American NAIA.

Although he has only led Menlo Football for one season, the Menlo community will not forget the exciting season he brought to the school. Speckman turned the program around, reminding Menlo what it feels like to believe in a team.

 “Coach Speckman started to really change our program. He got all the players to buy into something bigger than ourselves. He really started to get the team excited and got us working harder than ever,” said sophomore defensive tackle, Mata Tagaloa. “He received an offer that doesn’t come around often and he chose to seize that opportunity. He will be greatly missed.”

Menlo Athletic Department has yet to release a statement detailing what their next steps will be in finding a new head coach for the upcoming season. Until then, the team workouts and meetings will be headed by Coach Vic Brankovich.

Speckman will leave Menlo with a memorable season where he was able to inspire students past athletics and beyond the football field. He leaves behind him the start of stronger and more unified football program.

Click here to read the letter sent by President Jim Kelly to the Menlo Community about Coach Speckman’s departure.

Mika Mendoza, Stephanie Wertz and Amy Takano contributed to this story.