When he was hired as head football coach at Palisades High three years ago the first person Tim Hyde asked to join his staff was his friend and mentor Chris Hyduke, the defensive coordinator when Hyde played at Redondo Union.
“He wasn’t just the d-coordinator, he was my position coach,” said Hyde, who played nose guard and left tackle for two seasons for the Seahawks. “I’ve known him since I was a sophomore in high school. We’ve coached together before and we’ve talked a million times.”
Now, the two are reunited again. Hyduke has joined the Dolphins’ staff and brings decades coaching experience at the prep level.
“He retired [from teaching] last year and has agreed to come aboard with us so I’m excited,” Hyde said. “So much of what I know about the game I learned from him and the kids absolutely love him.”
Hyduke will help with the defense (primarily the linebackers). He vividly recalled having Hyde in his history class at Redondo.
“He was sitting in the front row with his basketball gear on and that was really his thing but I convinced him to come out for football,” Hyduke said. “Tim really excelled, made All-League and I think All-CIF. We’ve now come full circle and it’s nice to see one of my former players having so much success as a coach.”
Hyde last coached with his mentor at South Torrance in 1999 when the Spartans reached the CIF semifinals.
Hyduke began coaching at Loyola High in 1974, before stints at St. Francis and Crespi (where he helped coach the Celts to a CIF title). He was Redondo’s defensive coordinator from 1985-89 and the head coach from 1989-96. He spent 15 seasons at South Torrance, where he coached future USC stars Johnny and Chad Morton and Chauncey Washington.
“Today the game is more like basketball on grass,” Hyduke said. “It’s faster, more wide open. Tim has adapted to this modern style well and that’s why he’s been successful.”
— Steve Galluzzo
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