New head coach Debin Cowell will spend time with current, incoming and future-generation players at the Ceres High School Football Camp later this month at Bulldog Stadium.

“The goal is for the kids to have a safe place where they can learn some football skills and have fun,” he said.

The July 15-17 camp is open to players, ages 8-17.

Each session will last two hours (5-7 p.m.).

A 7-on-7 flag football tournament will be held the last day of the clinic.

Cowell (head coach/offensive coordinator/receivers) will provide instruction at the camp, along with assistant coaches Paul Smith (special teams/running backs), Cameron Moscozo (offensive line), Landyn Hudson (quarterbacks), Antone Lopez (defensive coordinator), Tim Giannosa (defensive line), Alex Casas (linebackers), Anthony Castro (defensive backs) and Josh Unrue (strength and conditioning), and returning Bulldog players.

“It’s important for high schools to run camps with coaches with higher resumes,” he said.

Cost is $40 per player.

Register at https://omella.com/p5iy7

“It’s our first time doing this,” Cowell said. “I’m trying to get the word out as much as I can. I want the kids to have fun. But I want them to get something out of it.”

“We want the camp to get bigger every year,” he added

Cowell was promoted to head coach following Brett Johnson’s retirement.

Johnson coached football at Ceres High for 34 years.

The Bulldogs enjoyed one of their best seasons to date under Johnson’s guidance in 2024 by compiling a 7-3 overall record and finishing in second place in the Western Athletic Conference with a 5-2 mark.

The Bulldogs capped off the season with a 36-7 win over crosstown-rival Central Valley Hawks.

“I’m doing everything I can to build the program the right way and be successful,” Cowell said. “I know what I’m up against. Our track record hasn’t been great. We’ve won in the past. We have to win so kids want to come play football for Ceres High.”

Cowell served as offensive coordinator on Johnson’s staff the past two seasons.

The 1999 CHS grad/2018 Bulldog Athletic Hall of Fame inductee was hired in April of 2024.

“That was an easy hire,” Johnson stated. “It says a lot when somebody wants to come back and improve a program they were a part of. He’s a Ceres guy.”

“Coach Johnson is not only a great coach but a great man,” Cowell said when he returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach. “He’s such a good person and Christian. That’s what drew me to this position. Those things are important. I’m going to give 1,000 percent every day I’m there.”

Johnson was Cowell’s track and field coach in the eighth grade at Mae Hensley Jr. High.

“He’s always been super competitive,” Johnson said. “He’s a great dude. I love his faith and walk in life. He’s fun to be around.”

Cowell has over three decades of experience as both a coach and player.

“I’ve been around the game my whole life,” he said. “I know football. You got to know how to relate to your players and get the best out of your players.”

“He has a wealth of knowledge,” Johnson added.

Cowell coached football at crosstown-rival Central Valley High School for 13 years.

He worked with running backs and quarterbacks under Hawks’ first varsity football head coach (Tim Garcia Jr., 2005-2011).

Cowell was Central Valley’s receivers coach on Derrick Goblirsch’s staff in 2023 following a three-year absence.

He took a break to dedicate more time to raising his three children (Cade, Cylee and Chance) with his wife (Amber).

“I loved my years at Central Valley High School,” he said. “I made a lot of relationships with people there. But something was missing. I wanted to come back home.”

Cowell started working as a special education teacher at Ceres High in 2025-26.

He filled a similar position at Waterford High School for seven years (2017-24). He turned down an offer to serve as head coach of the Wildcats’ football program.

“I was debating taking the Waterford job,” Cowell said. “It didn’t feel right. I wanted to coach in my hometown where my dad, brother and I played.”