As we approach the beginning of the outdoor season, we will continue to profile track and field coaches (and many that coach cross country as well) to our California coaching legend series. We have a lot of choices that cover the entire spectrum of events but as always, if you have coaches that you would like to nominate, please let us know on twitter @milesplitCA or you can email us at albertjcaruana@gmail.com, jgeorge@milesplit.com, and jeffrey.parenti@flosports.tv.
Bill Pendleton (photo courtesy of Esperanza HS) attended Gahr HS and was a three-sport (football, basketball and track and field) athlete. He continued his education at Cerritos College (home of the California State track and field meet for many years) and Idaho State. He was Scholar-Athlete of the Year at Idaho State and for the Big Sky Conference as a senior.He continued to compete as a masters competitor and won a national championship in the shot put.
Coach Pendleton was influenced by his father who was a football coach at Cerritos College. The younger Pendleton coached football at Esperanza for over 40 years and track and field for over 30 years. During that time, his throwers have been some of the best in California and for some, in the United States.
Among some of the best, Coach Pendleton coached a National Champion, Mark Parlin 1991 66'8 and 194' . He was also an All American at UCLA.. He also coached three state champions, Parlin, his oldest son, Travis Pendleton discus 203' 5 in 2000 and most recently Bronson Osborn (photo above courtesy of team website) who was state champion in both the shot put and discus as a junior in 2016. Osborn, unfortunately, was hurt before the start of his senior season and was unable to compete. Along with Osborn, Pendleton coached 17 CIF champions and 13 throwers that scored at the state meet. He's had 8 shot putters over 60' and 25 throwers over 50'. He's had 2 discus throwers over 200', 7 over 180' and 30 over 150'. He's also had 2 girls over 40' in the shot and 15 girls over 120' in the discus.
Below is a video of Bronson Osborn setting a new California record in the 16lb. shot put with a throw of 59'5.75".
You can check out Coach Pendleton's very information team site at the following link. It's a must visit for throwing coaches as well as their students:
http://aztecthrowers.homestead.com/
Lastly, a man who knows Coach Pendleton well and has coached against him for many years is Newport Harbor coach, Tony Ciarelli. Here is what he had to say about his friendly rival.
