Valley Vista junior running back Jaahad Parris reaches out to stiff arm Willow Canyon sophomore defensive back Jadin Ferrer during the annual Battle of Surprise football game Oct. 4, 2024 at Valley Vista High School.
(Courtesy Ryan McGinley/Dysart Schools)
(Dysart Schools)
For a school mainly known for its girl’s basketball program, Valley Vista aims to put its football program on the map.
With a new face leading the Monsoon, Ryan Desrochers created his own atmosphere, culture and attitude among his program to accomplish that goal.
Desrochers is the third head coach in three years, and this season felt like a wholesale change for the program.
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WEST VALLEY PREPS
2025 Preps football preview: Valley Vista
Valley Vista junior running back Jaahad Parris reaches out to stiff arm Willow Canyon sophomore defensive back Jadin Ferrer during the annual Battle of Surprise football game Oct. 4, 2024 at Valley Vista High School.
For a school mainly known for its girl’s basketball program, Valley Vista aims to put its football program on the map.
With a new face leading the Monsoon, Ryan Desrochers created his own atmosphere, culture and attitude among his program to accomplish that goal.
Desrochers is the third head coach in three years, and this season felt like a wholesale change for the program.
“It’s about changing the image, making it a more positive, more inclusive place where kids want to come be a part of,” Desrochers said.
Before arriving at Surprise, Desrochers worked with the football programs at Chandler and Liberty.
Working as the Wolves’ defensive coordinator and the Lions secondary coach has helped him prepare to lead his own team at Valley Vista by emphasizing hard work and accountability while creating a strong team environment.
“We got a hardworking group of kids that went through camp. They’re doing their part, recruiting guys on campus. I think we have three or four basketball players coming out to play that were not playing before,” Desrochers said,
Transitioning to a new school, meeting new players and staff, and rebuilding a program can bring its challenges. Valley Vista was 2-8 in 2023 and 1-9 in 2024 after making the 6A playoffs under Coach Derek Wahlstrom in 2022.
Yet, the “new” new coach said he was welcomed into the Monsoon family.
Desrochers plans to instill belief and confidence that his football team can be a winning program. Valley Vista went 7-4 in 2022, dominating the 6A West Valley region and ultimately losing to Phoenix Pinnacle in the state playoffs.
Since 2022, Valley Vista has only won three games. Now they have a chance to turn it around in a new region, 6A Fiesta.
This odd region includes Desrochers former employer, Chandler, the Wolves’ biggest rival, Hamilton, Pinnacle ad Laveen Cesar Chavez.
“After the 10-game season, we want to play an extra game. We want to be that team in the conversation to compete for a championship,” senior quarterback Damir Ilicic said,
Since his sophomore year, Ilicic has been on varsity, perfecting his skills. In his two years in varsity, Ilicic has thrown 2,782 yards for 23 touchdowns with .542% completion, earning himself a 72.8 quarterback rating.
Now being in a new region and under new leadership, Ilicic has the opportunity to show out one last time.
Along with Ilicic, senior strong safety Sawyer Oliver said they plan to change up the offense.
“We’re going to rely more on the run game. We have a stud, Jaahad Parris, and we need to get him the ball,” Oliver said about the differences in offensive schemes.
Parris rushed 440 yards for four touchdowns, along with 157 receiving yards as a junior. He started but only carried the ball 94 times all season
Pairing him up with Ilicic could impact the offense in big ways and make Valley Vista more of a dual threat. Senior receiver Joseph Watts-Diver is a proven deep threat, rolling up 575 yards and six touchdowns on only 24 catches.
The 5-5 Watts-Diver and 6-8 senior Ah’Meir Richards make for the most unique receiving duo in the state.
Defensive ends/tackles Jordan Jamison, a senior, and Zade Brown, a junior, lead the defense along with Oliver.
With a new season approaching, Desrochers has a lot to prove as a first head coach for Valley Vista football. The Monsoon will travel to Phoenix on Aug. 29 and compete against the O’Connor Eagles to kick off the season.
“We have a great athletic director, Mr. (Nestor) Felix, who from day one gave me a set of keys and said, ‘here you go.’ (He) showed me around and said, ‘it’s yours’ and ‘what do you need?’ I don’t think we’ve heard the word no yet. Hopefully we continue that.” Desrochers said.
