We’re drawn to sports because of the stories. The underdog overcoming obstacles to reach the mountaintop. The comeback player, game, or season that has all spectators on the edge of their seats. There are countless variations on the classic narratives.

This particular story finds an entire pack of Wolves returning to their roots at Van Nuys High School to rescue a program that was on the brink.

The 2024 Van Nuys Wolves put together an unforgettable season despite what might look like a pedestrian 5-5 record heading into the playoffs. They entered Valley Mission League play 2-2 with up-and-down performances, including a heartbreaking 23-14 defeat to the Fulton Jaguars, who were returning to 11-man football after a dominant run as an 8-man program.

The Wolves finished league play 3-3, securing a 5-5 overall record and the No. 7 seed in the City Section Division III playoffs. From there, they marched all the way to the D3 finals against league rival Panorama, falling short against the Pythons, who finally broke through after two prior championship losses. Still, the run marked the first city finals appearance for Van Nuys since a 1996 loss to Wilson.

On that 1996 team was junior Ken Osorio. Like many student-athletes, Osorio’s football career ended after high school. But his story with Van Nuys was far from over.

Rebuilding From the Ground Up

On a hot practice field nearly three decades later, Osorio now stands at the center of a huddle, his voice cutting through the late summer heat. His message is simple: accountability, discipline, trust. For the Van Nuys Wolves, it’s not just football. It’s survival.

A few years ago, survival was all the program had. Numbers were thin, chaos off the field threatened to undo what little was left, and players cycled through seasons without much hope. Osorio returned to change that.

“At first, it was just a field,” says senior captain Abraham Ceja of the early days.
“Freshman year it was lonely. But the coaches kept pouring into us. They built this thing from scratch.”

Osorio isn’t alone. He surrounded himself with a staff of alumni who knew what it meant to wear the Wolves uniform — men who had lived the struggle, endured the losing seasons, and still came back to give more.

George Garcia, the offensive coordinator, played under Osorio a decade ago before returning. “I grew up here. I wanted to make sure these kids have the same good experiences I had,” Garcia says. “When we took over, we made a mission of turning the program around. Not for glory, not to climb to college coaching jobs. For this neighborhood. For these kids.”

Garcia, who is finishing his degree at CSUN and hopes to become a teacher on campus, envisions coaching here for life. “I’d rather be here than anywhere else,” he says. “I want to be on this field until I can’t move anymore.”

Mario Sanchez, who now coaches the defensive backs, echoes that devotion. “I came back because Osorio was my coach. I stopped by one day, and I never left,” Sanchez says. “For me, it’s about showing kids that football is just a moment — but the lessons, the discipline, the work ethic? That lasts.”

Turning a Corner

The turning point came slowly. A competitive JV season gave the staff a core group of committed players who bought into a new standard: CARES — Commitment, Attitude, Respect, Skills.

By Ceja’s sophomore year, varsity started seeing results. Playoff runs followed. Then came the breakthrough: a trip to the city championship game.

“It was a slow process,” Ceja reflects, “but once it all came together, it was beautiful.”

The signature moment — one coaches and players alike cite — was beating longtime rival San Fernando.

“When I played, San Fernando beat us for what felt like 15 years straight,” Garcia says.
“To go into their homecoming, after they embarrassed us the year before, and beat them — that was everything.”

Sanchez agrees: “That game put us on the map. The kids realized, ‘We can do this.’”

Alumni like Gus, who graduated this past Spring, have seen the revival first-hand. “You see the stands full, you see kids believing. That’s Osorio and his staff.”

The Vision Ahead

For the coaches, the victories matter. But more than that, it’s the transformation of the kids — and the community.

Assistant coach Rojas says that’s the true legacy. “It’s about building young men who can succeed beyond this field. Wins are nice, but that’s not the ultimate goal.”

Rodas adds, “These kids now walk around campus with pride. People recognize them, they recognize themselves. That changes everything.”

Ferrafino puts it in personal terms – “I don’t think I’d be where I am without this staff. They saved the program, and they saved kids like me.”

Osorio saw that change most clearly during last year’s playoff run. “I remember the semifinal game where one of the kids was like, I’ve never seen so many Van Nuys Letterman jackets in my life. And that’s just, it wasn’t planned, but that’s what it was.”

Ceja, who has played under this staff for all four years, puts it plainly:

“The coaches are more than coaches. They’re mentors. They’re building us into men.
They’ve been in our shoes — they know what it’s like at this school, in this community. They don’t just teach football. They teach life.”

As the Wolves prepare for another season, the foundation feels different. Numbers are up. Culture is solid. The seniors who started in emptiness now lead a program with an identity.

Garcia sees the big picture: “We’ve had these kids since JV. We’ve watched them grow up.
This year, we finally get to see what four years of building can do.”

For Osorio, the wins matter, but legacy matters more. Saving Van Nuys football wasn’t just about keeping a program alive. It was about giving kids a place to belong, a reason to push, a chance to lead.

And for players like Ceja, it’s about carrying that forward.

“Being a leader here is an honor,” he says. “It’s not just about us. It’s about the next guys coming in, the next generation. We’re building something that lasts.” about carrying that forward. “Being a leader here is an honor,” he says.

“It’s not just about us. It’s about the next kids who come after. Because now, Van Nuys football is alive again.”

VST was unable to interview coach Steve Handy for this article. Handy, also a Van Nuys alumnus, played a large role in this revival and this should not go unmentioned. Every coach interviewed made sure to give credit to Handy for his influence.