When it comes to high school football, fans across the nation know about Long Beach Poly. The Jackrabbits have the distinction of producing the most NFL players to go along with over 800 wins and 20 CIF Southern Section championships.
In 2018, Stephen Barbee took-over the reins of the program from former NFL linebacker Antonio Pierce, who guided the program to a 35-11 over a four year period. Despite all of Poly’s past success, many felt that the program was slipping from elite status as programs like St. John Bosco and Mater Dei dominated the southern section’s top division.
Barbee, who led tiny St. Margaret’s to a CIF State Bowl Game in 2014, wasted little time in getting the program headed back in the right direction. After back-to-back eight wins seasons in 2018 and 2019, Barbee took the Jackrabbits to the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game in 2021.
Last season, the team’s success, a 10-0 regular season, led to the program returning to the Division 1 playoffs. Despite losing to nationally-ranked Los Alamitos in the opening round, Poly finished the year ranked No. 78 in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
Related: 2022 HSFA 300 national rankings
After the season, the Los Angeles Rams honored Barbee by naming him the team’s finalist for the prestigious Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award.
Below, High School Football America co-founder Jeff Fisher talks with Coach Barbee about turning around the program on the HSFA Podcast.
Click the play button to listen.
