ST. JAMES – Call it a meeting of fate.

St. James head football coach Robert Valdez was just cruising the buffet table at a recent graduation party when he spotted a familiar face.

Actually, he heard a familiar voice tell him, “If anybody would be here by the food it would be you.”

The voice belonged to Austin Howard, who was a star quarterback for Valdez at West St. John, who helped the Rams to a finals and a semifinals appearance between 2010-2013. Back then, Valdez had a nickname for his star quarterback, who was known for his incredible athleticism, constant movement, jokes and pranks.

“I call him ‘Headache,’” Valdez said. “Because he always gave me a headache.”

But it didn’t take long before Valdez realized that his former player could give him something else – his expertise on the football field. A brief conversation and a few text messages later, Howard was joining Valdez’ staff at St. James as quarterbacks coach.

“Basically, when you’ve got somebody that you know and you know what they can do and what he’s done and you’re familiar with them, there’s really no resume needed,” Valdez said. “I didn’t need a resume. I didn’t need anything. All I needed was a phone number. It just was a situation where, for us and our program, it helps us. I’m not getting any younger so it’s always good to get good young people in, who have had recent success.”

Howard, who graduated from West St. John in 2013, went on to a stellar college career at Southern University. He became the Jaguars’ starting quarterback as a freshman (he was the 2014 Southwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year). By the time he finished in 2017 he was the Jaguars’ all-time leading passer, breaking records set by another former Ram, Dray Joseph. Howard is the only Jaguars’ quarterback to surpass 9,000 yards; He finished with 9,208 yards and 80 touchdowns.

All my coaches at West St. John, they really prepared me for all that I went through at Southern,” Howard said. “They taught me how to face adversity, such as quarterback battles. I was 13 years old when I first played ball at West St. John. What’s a man to do with a 13-year old? They made me believe in myself.”

“That’s how he got the nickname Headache,” Valdez added.

Howard said coaching always interested him.

“I knew I wanted to be around ball,” he said. “I’ve been around ball all my life so, I knew when I was finished, I wanted to help other people. I just wanted to be around kids and be around something I love too. I’m just 22 years old. I can tell them, ‘I was just in your shoes two years ago.’ I feel like I bring youth to the table, I bring experience, knowledge.”

Valdez he still brings headaches sometimes.

“He’s got a lot of enthusiasm,” Valdez said. “But I’d rather tell a horse to whoa than to giddyup.”