Coach Berg brings high expectations to Lincoln football

The Fighting Zebras have a new head coach in town, Allen Berg, who brings defense, high expectations and more than 20 years of experience to the Lincoln football program. "Our athletes want to be pushed and held accountable and be great, but to be great, they must have an incredible work ethic," Berg said. Berg grew up in Sacramento and attended Foothill High School playing football under then coach Frank Negri as a linebacker and center before graduating in 1991. He played at American River College before transferring to Sacramento State University in 1993. During Berg's final season in 1995, the Hornets won the American West Conference. After college, Berg went back to Foothill to help Negri as a linebacker and offensive line coach in 1997 and remained in this role until 2007 when he became the program's head coach. In his first season as head coach, the Mustangs won the Capital Valley Conference (CVC). Berg was also a special teams' coordinator, strength and conditioning coach and the defensive coordinator in various years with their program. "Allen impressed me as a real tough, smart and hard-working player and coach for me," Negri said. "One time, he re-entered a game without the coach's permission after he had been removed for an injury since his replacement also got hurt." Berg has lived in Lincoln since 2000, but it wasn't until 2015 when he and his wife, Sandra, applied for teaching positions with Lincoln High School. He didn't even consider coaching until Jay Berns, the principal at the time, talked him into helping the program. "He is no nonsense, yet he is not abrasive or loud and in your face," Berns said. "I wanted him to be a part of the program because of his commitment to high standards and expectations for the student athletes he serves." At the time, Berg's son, Andre, was coaching defensive backs so he decided to get involved and became the defensive coordinator in 2017. He remained in that role until 2019 and had the opportunity to become head coach when Chris Bean moved on to start the football program at Twelve Bridges after coaching the Zebras for seven seasons. "The support the student body shows for the school is like nothing I have ever seen in high school sports," Berg said. "Our stands are packed and the Zoo is just crazy. The atmosphere is something all schools should have and experience." Berg wants to bring more accountability to the program and has looked for coaches who also have high expectations for the squad. "I want to lay a foundation so that every year, regardless of talent, we compete with anyone," Berg said. The main goal Berg has for the program is to be competitive and the Zebras will have that opportunity when the season starts at home on Aug. 20 against Del Oro High School. "I'm sure he will do a great job and I'm just glad I don't have to play him in league," Negri said.