Bret Durossette thought he closed a chapter in his life when he quit coaching varsity football at Ceres High School following the 2005 season.
"I figured I'd retire as an administrator in the district," he said.
Durossette agreed to return to the Bulldogs for a second stint as head coach earlier this month.
He replaces Brett Johnson, who guided Ceres High to a 7-43 record in five seasons (2006-10).
"It's a good opportunity," Durossette said. "Having been there before, it's a better fit, instead of finding another job with another school district. I've had some of the best times in my life coaching football at Ceres High School. I take a lot of pride in being a Ceres High grad and witnessing Ceres High be successful. Watching them made me want to come back."
Durossette interviewed for the position on Dec. 16. Two other people from outside Ceres Unified applied as well.
"We had to look in-district first," Ceres High athletic director Glenn Driskell said. "Thankfully, we had someone who was excited about taking it. He did a great job before when he was head coach. I expect nothing less this time."
The Bulldogs won one league title, qualified for the playoffs twice and posted a 26-36 overall record under Durossette's guidance from 2000-05.
Ceres High won just one of 10 games and finished in last place (0-5) during its first season in the Western Athletic Conference during the fall. The Bulldogs also lost to crosstown rival Central Valley for the fourth year in a row.
"It's a real tough gig now that there are two high schools in town," Durossette said. "It's going to take us a couple of years to build it. That doesn't mean we're not going to be able to compete. We should be extremely competitive. We just want to be successful. We want to win some football games. We look forward to the challenge."
Durossette will assemble varsity, junior-varsity and freshman coaching staffs during the winter break.
"I'm in the process of trying to get the right people in place," he said. "I hope to have it all done in two weeks."
Last spring, Durossette helped turn Ceres High's varsity baseball team.
The Bulldogs finished 16-10-1 on the year and fourth in the Valley Oak League standings (10-6). Ceres High remained in the hunt for a playoff berth until the final week of the season.
"We're looking to do the same thing in football," Durossette said. "I think we can."
Durossette's calendar will be occupied in 2011.
He plans to run for a seat on the Ceres City Council in November. Durossette was appointed in 2008.
He'll also coach baseball for one last season and prep football for the first time in six years.
"It's strange," Durossette said. "I'm going to be one busy guy. I feel that's when I'm at my best."
"I figured I'd retire as an administrator in the district," he said.
Durossette agreed to return to the Bulldogs for a second stint as head coach earlier this month.
He replaces Brett Johnson, who guided Ceres High to a 7-43 record in five seasons (2006-10).
"It's a good opportunity," Durossette said. "Having been there before, it's a better fit, instead of finding another job with another school district. I've had some of the best times in my life coaching football at Ceres High School. I take a lot of pride in being a Ceres High grad and witnessing Ceres High be successful. Watching them made me want to come back."
Durossette interviewed for the position on Dec. 16. Two other people from outside Ceres Unified applied as well.
"We had to look in-district first," Ceres High athletic director Glenn Driskell said. "Thankfully, we had someone who was excited about taking it. He did a great job before when he was head coach. I expect nothing less this time."
The Bulldogs won one league title, qualified for the playoffs twice and posted a 26-36 overall record under Durossette's guidance from 2000-05.
Ceres High won just one of 10 games and finished in last place (0-5) during its first season in the Western Athletic Conference during the fall. The Bulldogs also lost to crosstown rival Central Valley for the fourth year in a row.
"It's a real tough gig now that there are two high schools in town," Durossette said. "It's going to take us a couple of years to build it. That doesn't mean we're not going to be able to compete. We should be extremely competitive. We just want to be successful. We want to win some football games. We look forward to the challenge."
Durossette will assemble varsity, junior-varsity and freshman coaching staffs during the winter break.
"I'm in the process of trying to get the right people in place," he said. "I hope to have it all done in two weeks."
Last spring, Durossette helped turn Ceres High's varsity baseball team.
The Bulldogs finished 16-10-1 on the year and fourth in the Valley Oak League standings (10-6). Ceres High remained in the hunt for a playoff berth until the final week of the season.
"We're looking to do the same thing in football," Durossette said. "I think we can."
Durossette's calendar will be occupied in 2011.
He plans to run for a seat on the Ceres City Council in November. Durossette was appointed in 2008.
He'll also coach baseball for one last season and prep football for the first time in six years.
"It's strange," Durossette said. "I'm going to be one busy guy. I feel that's when I'm at my best."
