‘I love everything about this school.’ New El Capitan football coach hopes to stay awhile

El Capitan High senior Diego Ultreras has seen a new head football coach in each of his four years in high school.

For three straight seasons Ultreras has had to adjust, learn a new offense and get comfortable in a new system.

So when Jordan Irsik resigned after last season there was this feeling for Ulteras like here we go again. He was nervous to see who the coach would be.

But Ulteras and other players sighed in relief when Xavier Ramirez was announced as the new coach. The players are familiar with Ramirez who has coached at El Capitan for six years, including two years as the junior varsity coach.

“When we found out Coach X was taking over it was like we could breathe again,” Utreras said. “We know he has our back and we’re going to be good this year.”

Ramirez plans on sticking around and closing the revolving door that led to four different head coaches in the past four years.

“I want to be here as long as possible,” Ramirez said. “I really love El Cap. I love the school. I love everything about this school. It’s a great campus, it’s a great culture. And you know what? I’m not going to leave this place until this place is okay.

“This football program deserves more than what it’s been, what it’s had,” Ramirez added. “I’m going to stay here as long as possible now to make sure that every kid that comes through this program has a great experience.”

The Gauchos had their winningest season, finishing 4-6 last season under Irsik. However, Irsik resigned to spend more time with his family. El Capitan had compiled a 3-41 record the five years prior to finishing a program best 4-6 last season.

Ramirez and the coaching staff are using much of the blueprint that Irsik created for the program including using the same offensive and defensive schemes, adding their own adjustments.

“We appreciate what he did,” Ramirez said. “But now we’re making it ours. I think we we found out a true identity, how we should be running our offense and what it should look like.”

While the Gauchos were pass-heavy last year, Ramirez anticipates the offense focusing on their running back duo of Lorenzo Peters and Dejuan Franklin.

The focus is on four-yards per play and moving the chains.

“Last year there was more learning, learning everything,” said receiver Braylon Centeno. “This year we’re already on track. We’re so far along now the goal is getting everything perfect. We’re making sure the blocking is right, that someone is hitting the right gaps, little adjustments.”

When the Gauchos pass they have weapons to balance the offense with Centeno, Ultreras and Elais Ruiz and quarterback Sergio Mendoza.

“We have all the right pieces,” Mendoza said.

The players feel one of the moves Ramirez made was putting players in a leadership role.

“It’s not do what I say because I’m the coach,” said senior linebacker Logan Davenport. “It’s more, ‘You guys are our leaders.’ We have a group of leaders who come talk to coach X and coach (Alex) Hernandez (defensive coordinator). We have offensive leaders and defensive leaders. Culture is the biggest thing.”

The Gauchos hope they can build off of last year and continue moving in the right direction. The El Capitan schedule was set up to build confidence. The Gauchos’ first three opponents Hug (Nevada), Florin and Beyer had a combined 2-29 record last season.

The hope is some early success can help the Gauchos gain momentum.

“We want to leave a legacy,” Ultreras said. “That’s our school motto. Hopefully the junior class can grow off what we do this year and the program will continue to grow and advance.”

El Capitan 2024 Schedule

Aug. 23 at Hug

Aug. 30 vs Florin

Sept. 6 vs Beyer

Sept. 20 at Waterford

Sept. 27 vs Immanuel

Oct. 4 vs Los Banos

Oct. 11 vs Atwater

Oct. 18 at Merced

Oct. 25 at Buhach Colony

Nov. 1 vs Golden Valley