Recruiting. Staff. Weights, these were the three main goals Head Coach Matt Mendonca had set for his Giants during the 2024 offseason, and he believes he achieved all three.
In December, a month after the season ended for the Giants, the team named former standout Giant linebacker Caleb Chennault as the team’s New Head Strength & Conditioning Coach. Chennault registered over 60 tackles in two seasons with the Giants and appeared in all 11 games for the Giants in his sophomore campaign. We asked Head Coach Matt Mendonca what it meant for him to come in during the offseason and make the kind of impact he did, he stated “Getting after it in the weightroom was one of our biggest needs going into the offseason, the way he constructed workouts at such an elite level definitely helped our guys out, the workouts were focused on intensity, focus, and accountability. Not only did we see physical improvements in our guys but also in their weight room numbers as well.” Chennault is currently serving an internship with the Los Angeles Clippers as a Strength & Conditioning Coach as well.
Following Chennault’s hire, the team hired several additional coaches to join the Giant family, Coach Brian Macdonald, Coach Devonte Walker and Offensive Coordinator Eric Marty. New coaches can always be skeptical for any team especially a new offensive coordinator, but Coach Mendonca killed that narrative quick. Marty is a former quarterback at Chapman University and former Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach for the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League. “Coach Marty reminds me of myself in terms of our shared values, our philosophies on the game of football, and just how to win in the game of football.” Coach Mendonca says all the new hires will be great assets to the Giants. “All the coaches have made a tremendous impact in not only developing the players but also taking responsibility in recruiting at their position getting elite talent on the roster” said by Coach Mendonca.
Six players to watch this year for the Giants
Quarterback- Payton Faker
Defensive Back- Wendell Ware
Running Back- Jahkylle Smith
Linebacker- Gavin Silene (transfer from Fort Lewis)
Offensive Guard- Eric Refsdal
Defensive End- Kevin Watson
The Giants kick off their season on the road, August 30th at 1 p.m. against American River College, and host their first game at Sequoias’ stadium September 6th at 11 a.m. against San Francisco City. GO GIANTS!
