Maintenance head Brian Moran, a ‘71 grad, views SHS with new eyes

As a former basketball player himself, Class of 1971 alumnus Brian Moran, who now works as the plant manager overseeing construction and maintenance at the school, witnessed high-spirited basketball games.

Moran recalls that the gym was “crazy loud” and “packed wall to wall with people” during games.

While the basketball team performed well, the football team dominated even more. From 1959 to 1994, under the guidance of legendary coach Benny Pierce (after whom the football field is named), the team won three CCS championships in 1973, 1976 and 1987.

“[Pierce] was recruited by some of the pro teams,” Moran said. “The 49ers were interested, and San Jose State and a lot of of colleges were interested, but he loved Saratoga High School. He didn’t want to take any other job. He was very happy here.”

Besides the crowded gyms, Moran recalls other memories from his time in school. He said that the Class of 1971 had perhaps 430 students. At the time, between 1,700 to 1,800 filled the campus compared to today’s 1,300.

During Moran’s early years, male students could not grow their hair long because of the dress code. Once that code eased around 1970, however, many boys with shoulder-length hair could be seen walking around campus, reflecting the growing hippie and counterculture movement.

“For guys, it was a big fashion trend at the time,” Moran said. “The Beatles came out, and there were [other] rock groups. They all had long hair.”

One of the greatest visual changes on campus has been the rise of technology. Prior to Silicon Valley’s technological boom, the school possessed one computer in the early ‘70s that the math department tinkered with, unlike the dozens of computers found on campus today.

Moran joined the Silicon Valley industry himself following graduation. After working at the technology company Amdahl Corporation for many years, he transitioned to working at the district office.

He remained there for nearly four years before getting a call that there was a position open at SHS in 2007.

“That’s what brought me back. I was on the search, thinking I’d go work for a school, and these opportunities came up,” Moran said. “I was a kid walking around here in 1969, and to be back at my age is kind of cool, really.”