LA PUENTE — Change is happening for the Bishop Amat football team after it went 2-8 last season and suffered back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in school history.

It was on display Thursday during an early-morning college showcase at Kiefer Stadium under first-year coach Kory Minor. The former Lancers standout has replaced longtime coach Steve Hagerty, who resigned after last season.

Minor has brought in several new assistants and has retained some of last year’s coaching staff. They’ve gone to work, attracting several transfers, many of whom took part in Thursday’s workout.

Minor was an All-American linebacker at Bishop Amat and won a CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship with the Lancers in 1992. He went on to play at Notre Dame and in the NFL.

“We have guys (on this staff) that realize what this place used to be about,” Minor said, “and they want to help me bring it back. My record here was 49-2, so I know what winning here is, and the guys that are here are buying into that. There’s a standard, raise your level up, compete. We do it all day long. We finished our second week of spring and I’m very pleased with what is happening.”

One noticeable change is the size on the team’s offensive line. The Lancers return Brian Borjon (6-foot-6), who will be a senior in the fall, and Dominic Gonzalez (6-5, 310), who will be a junior next season.

There was some buzz about Cody Tuitoelau, a 6-6, 290-pound transfer from Whittier Christian who will be a junior next season. Amat is also extremely high on Troy Oliva (6-2, 290), a transfer from St. John Bosco who also will be a junior.

“We’re trying to build up,” Oliva said. “I think we can do great. There are some little pieces that we’re missing, but other than that, we’re a complete team. Our coaches are great, they bring up the intensity in practice every day.”

Oliva is the kind of player who sets the tone.

“I’m very vocal and I have so much love for the sport,” Oliva said. “Coming out here every day is a priveledge. I come out here with heart, intensity and pride.”

Minor knows Bishop Amat’s turnaround will start up front.

“If you can’t run the ball you can’t do anything,” Minor said. “We’re in the Mission League, the number two league behind the Trinity League. We have to find some hogs on the line that can do it for us. From Eric Bieniemy to Scott Fields, Ralph Brown, Rodney Sermons and Daylon McCutcheon, this list goes on, they all ran the ball here. Having guys up front that can protect the quarterback and let our (running backs) do their thing, that unlocks it all.”

Amat has two talented running backs. Ryan Salcedo has returned for his senior season, and Caleb Bey, a transfer from Crean Lutheran, will be a junior.

“Since I got here he’s (Salcedo) been a big role model, he’s a senior coming up,” Bey said. “He’s been showing me around and showing me how this program is run and giving me good advice. Every day is hard work. Every day you come out and grind.”

Salcedo likes what he’s seen so far.

“It’s been different, but I feel like it’s for the better though,” Salcedo said of the coaching changes and new players.

Amat has two transfers who will likely fight for the starting quarterback job.

Brayden Wann is a 6-5 transfer from Eisenhower who threw for 1,627 yards and 17 TDs as a junior. Domenico Doran is a 6-2 transfer from Servite who will be a junior in the fall. He showed strong footwork and arm strength.