The two are splitting the head coaching chores after Hancock serving as the main man in recent years. And the co-head coaches are hoping to build on the successes of the last few years.

The Vikings won a conference championship in 2000 and they posted a solid 7-4 record last season under Hancock's leadership. This year Vlahos joins the program, and the Vikes are looking for more of the same.

West Valley got off to a solid start with a win over American River College in their opener on Sept. 14 in Sacramento, but their record was leveled at 1-1 last Friday when they dropped their home opener to the City College of San Francisco.

The Vikings will try to get back on the winning track this week when they play host to De Anza College on Sept. 27, 3 p.m., on their home field in Saratoga.

Heading up the West Valley attack this season will be returning all-conference stars Heath Ferreira and Kasey Padia. Ferreira, a standout from Valley Christian, is a tough 5-foot-10, 227-pound fullback who is a hard-charging runner for the Vikings, and Padia, a 6-foot and 240-pounder from Leigh, leads the way in the offensive line.

Sal Washington (Prospect), Donnie Gupton (Oak Grove), Shawntey Lopez (Fremont), Victor Eti (Overfelt), Mike Giorgianni (Pioneer) and Josh Washington (Westmont) are other top returners for West Valley this fall.

S.Washington is a speedster in the Viking backfield who will run alongside Ferreira. The former Prospect star will be joined at the running back spot by Michael Collins (Milpitas), a high school sensation for the Trojans just a year ago.

Eti, at 6-foot-3 and 340 pounds, joins Padia to give the Vikings experience in the offensive line.

Leading the offense for the Vikes is freshman quarterback Jason Campbell, who starred locally as a prepster at Del Mar. The 6-foot-2, 186-pounder is a strong thrower who has been battling Donald Bresee (Pioneer) for the starting job. Bresee is a talented runner as well as a passer, but he missed his senior season last fall because of a knee injury.

Gupton, Lopez, Giorgianni and J. Washington are all defensive returners for the Vikes. Gupton and Lopez are sophomores back in the secondary for West Valley, and Giorgianni and Washington return to the defensive line.

Newcomer Michael Gonzalez (Mitty) is a top prospect as linebacker.

Vlahos and Hancock are joined on the West Valley staff this season by Scott Forbes, Dan Morgan, Jim Winkler and Chad Purcell.

Michael Crooks (Leigh), Anthony Frangadakis (Los Gatos), Byron Taplin (Leigh), Michael Malone (Leigh), James Murdock (Leigh) and Jon Espe (Los Gatos) are other local players competing for the Vikings this season.