During his four years at the University of Arizona, Robert Bonillas was the exact type of player he wants to teach.
He listened to his coaches. He wanted to get better. He thrived on competition.
Bonillas was hired as Desert View's head football coach this week and will take over a program that went 0-10 last year and hasn't had a winning season since going 5-4 in 2000.
Objective No. 1 will be to instill those same traits in his new team.
"For us to be successful, it's about our team," Bonillas said. "It's not about how you do as an individual. It's putting the team first, doing whatever your coaches ask you to do and working as hard as you can."
Bonillas began his coaching career in 2001 when he returned to his alma matter, Nogales, and joined the staff and as an assistant coach.
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After two years, he was named the head coach, replacing Jim Paul, a 12-year veteran.
Problem was, Bonillas wasn't ready.
"Since that time, I have learned what I was missing when I first became a head coach," Bonillas said.
He was the head man for the Apaches for two seasons and then joined Richard Sanchez's staff at Sunnyside.
He has spent the past seven seasons with the Blue Devils as the special-teams coordinator and offensive and defensive line coach.
When Sanchez retired from coaching after the 2010 season, Bonillas stayed on the Sunnyside staff and worked for current coach Glenn Posey.
But when Jim Monaco resigned at Desert View in November, another opportunity arose.
Sanchez, who now serves as the district athletic director for Sunnyside Unified School District, knew he wanted Bonillas to be one of the candidates.
Sanchez asked Bonillas to interview, and Bonillas accepted. Sanchez said a six-person committee that he headed interviewed seven potential candidates and decided on Bonillas after three potential coaches were asked back for a second interview.
"Fortunate for us, he accepted the job when we offered," Sanchez said. "Desert View is getting a great coach."
Why is he a better candidate now than he was in 2003 when he accepted the Nogales job?
"I've learned the importance of being at school every single day," Bonillas said. "I've learned how important the offseason workouts are and how serious you have to take those. And, I've improved my listening skills."
With that, the former Wildcat will get his second chance.
As a player for Dick Tomey, Bonillas learned all about earning chances.
He started his career as a free safety, moved to inside linebacker then to tight end and finished his career as an outside linebacker.
He was willing to do whatever he could to help his team, no matter how many chances it took.
"He played hard. He played at full speed," Sanchez said. "He was a player."
Honor teams coming up
The Daily Star will offer its picks for all-Southern Arizona teams for wrestling and boys and girls soccer on Sunday.
Boys and girls basketball will follow later this month.
The Star will also name its Players of the Year for all three sports.
Wild for Wildcats
Robert Bonillas is the third former Arizona Wildcat to be hired this offseason as a Tucson head coach.
Coach, school, years as a Wildcat, and coach taking over for:
• Robert Bonillas: Desert View, 1995-1998, Jim Monaco
• Kris Heavner: Santa Rita, 2003, 04, 06, 07, Harold Coleman
• Clarence McRae:, Mountain View, 2003-04, Larry Branson
