Bosco Football -- 2019 National Champions

 Jason Negro, originally from Bellflower, CA, is a St. John Bosco High School graduate from the class of 1991.  While at Bosco, he lettered in both varsity football and baseball.  Jason later graduated from California State University Dominguez Hills with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. While completing his degree, he began his coaching career in Bellflower where he coached Junior All-American for five years.

After college, Coach Negro began his career at St. John Bosco in 1998 where he taught geometry and Algebra II and coached both varsity football and baseball.  At Bosco he coached defensive backs and linebackers and held the position of defensive coordinator for one season.  After three years at SJB, he found a new home with the Mustangs at Trabuco Hills High School.  At Trabuco Hills he coached the varsity defensive backs his first year then the inside linebackers his second.  In May of 2003, at age 29, he was named the head coach of the Mustangs; only the third head coach since Trabuco’s opening in 1987.

Coach Negro held the position of head coach at Trabuco Hills for seven years.  During his time at Trabuco, the Mustangs made five straight playoff appearances, winning two Sea View League Championships. He also led the Mustangs to two CIF Semi-Finals appearances in 2006 and 2008 as well as two CIF Finals appearances in 2007 and 2009.  Under his last 5 years of leadership the Mustangs boasted an impressive 40 – 10 record and a 10 – 4 playoff record.  In the summer of 2008 Coach Negro was selected the head coach of the South All-Stars for the Orange County North/South All-Star game.

Coach Negro took the reigns of Bosco Football as Head Coach in 2010. After his third season at St. John Bosco, Coach Negro, along with his incredibly talented staff, captured an undefeated Trinity League Championship and made a Pac 5 division semi-final appearance. The completion of his fourth season saw Coach Negro lead his team through a historic season. The 2013 Braves went 16-0, earning themselves a back-to-back Trinity League Title, CIF PAC-5 Division Championship Title, the Open Division California State Championship Title with a 20-14 victory over perennial power De La Salle High School, and a #1 National Ranking Title by Max Preps and USA Today. At the conclusion of the 2013 season, Coach Negro was an assistant coach to the US Army All-American Bowl Game in San Antonio, TX. 

Coach Negro earned the prestigious honor of being named the 2013 National High School Coach of the Year by Max Preps as well as the American Football Monthly Magazine Coach of the Year, presented by Rawlings Football.  In addition, he received the 2013 Xenith/Bill Yoast National Coach of the Year award presented by the US Army All-American Bowl. Locally, he was named the Long Beach Press-Telegram’s Dream Team Coach of the Year and received top honors as the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Coach of the year.

In what is arguably one of the toughest leagues in the nation, the Braves have earned their fourth consecutive undefeated Trinity League title. In 2014 and 2015, the Braves were the PAC5 Division runner-ups. 

2016 was another successful season for the Braves.  A CIF Southern Section Championship over local power Mater Dei preceded another State Title in which the Braves defeated De La Salle 56-33.  Coach Negro was named Long Beach Press-Telegram, CIF Southern Section Division 1, California Coaches Association CIF Southern Section Coach of the Year, and the USA Today California Coach of the Year.

In 2017, The Braves took two east coast trips (Florida and Washington, D.C.), and finished the season with an 11-3 campaign and a record setting 5^th straight trip to the CIF-SS Division 1 Finals. 

2018 was an exciting year as the doors to Panish Family Stadium were opened after being on the road for three seasons.  Record setting continued as the Braves made their 6^th straight appearance to the CIF-SS Division 1 Finals, falling just short of the title. 

The 2019 season brought great success to Brave Nation. Behind the leadership of the #1 prep quarterback in the nation, the Braves took on a daunting pre-season challenge and beat national powers DeMatha Catholic High School, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School and Don Bosco Preparatory High School and entered the Trinity League with a solid 5-0 record. The Braves made their record setting 7^th straight appearance to the CIF-SS Open Division Finals, defeating rival Mater Dei in dramatic fashion, coming back from a 28-5 deficit, to earn the CIF Championship.  Following the defeat of De La Salle to earn the California State Championship title, the Bosco Braves were named undisputed National Champions. Coach Negro was named Press-Telegram Dream Team Coach of the Year, CIF-SS Open Division Coach of the Year, and earned the Cal Hi Sports Coach of the Year and Decade honor, as well as recognition from Max Preps as both the National Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Decade.

Coach Negro currently resides in Fountain Valley with his extremely supportive wife, Carrie (St. Joseph HS, ’91) and their two beautiful daughters, Rylie (17 years) and Reese (14 years). In addition to his coaching duties, Coach Negro serves as a member of the CIF Southern Section Football Coaches Advisory Committee, is a member of the Eastbay Team Sales Advisory Board, and an annual participant of the Nike High School Elite Coaches Summit.

Jessie Christensen is a graduate of St. Joseph High School Class of 1989. She went on to UCLA, was a member of their Spirit Squad, and earned her degree in Psychology. Jessie co-created and was the Volunteer Alumni Director of the UCLA Jr. Spirit Squad, designed to work with local youth, supporting UCLA Athletics. Jessie worked for the Los Angeles Clippers for 10 years as the Director of Entertainment Teams. During her time with the Clippers, she was able to travel to China and Mexico promoting NBA International Initiatives and was fortunate to have the opportunity to create and perform in a USO show at the US Army Base in Darmstadt, Germany, welcoming home troops on their return from Iraq.

In addition to working with the NBA, Jessie was the Associate Director of the San Diego Charger Girls and Jr. Charger Girls, a program benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She directed the NFL’s Pro Bowl Cheerleader Program for 5 years, focusing on game entertainment, charity appearances and media relations. She has had the pleasure of working for e2k Sports and the NFL League Office, producing game entertainment for preseason, International and NFC Championship football games in Japan, Canada, Mexico City and across the United States. Over the course of her time with the NBA and NFL, Jessie worked with musical artists Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and the Backstreet Boys, to name a few. She has also choreographed The ESPY's and the Monday Night Football Intro for ABC.

Jessie has been the Football Operations Manager here at St. John Bosco High School since 2013. In her first season, she was a part of the 16-0 State and National Championship team, and continues to support the program to remain nationally relevant.

As the Assistant to Head Coach Jason Negro, the goal is to make Bosco Football the best all-around program in the nation. Cross country travel, parent communication, NCAA recruitment, program finances, football specific special events and game day production all fall under her jurisdiction. Most importantly, the relationship with the students at St. John Bosco is what drives the position, as the mission is to continue to work under the umbrella of Salesian Educational values.

“Jessie Christensen keeps tabs on transcripts, ensures kids are on course to qualify at their respective programs and checks that they and their families are aware of SAT dates, graduation requirements and course credits”. -Antonio Morales, The Athletic

Jessie is honored to have been selected as the 2009 St. Joseph High School Distinguished Alumna of the Year and to have served as a member of their advisory board. She is married to Bryce, a SJB graduate from the Class of 1990, who currently teaches and is the Athletic Director at Bellflower High School. They have three beautiful daughters, Megan SJHS '21, Mia SJHS '23, and Samantha, 7th grade (all assistants to the Bosco Football program)! Jessie is proud to be a 3-time State and 2-time National Champion!

Jessie Christensen
Football Operations Manager