Debin Cowell has been promoted to head coach of Ceres High School’s football program.
“I was debating taking the Waterford job,” said Cowell, a 1999 CHS graduate and 2018 Bulldog Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. “It didn’t feel right. I wanted to coach in my hometown where my dad, brother and I played. It means a lot to me.”
Cowell, 45, replaced longtime Ceres High leader Brett Johnson, who guided the Bulldogs to 28 wins and a pair of Sac-Joaquin Section playoff appearances during two different stints as head coach (2002-25, 2006-10).
“It’s definitely going to be hard not having him around on campus,” said Cowell, Johnson’s offensive coordinator the past two seasons with the Bulldogs and former student at Mae Hensley Jr. High in the 1990s. “He’s such a good role model. He’s a fantastic person. Very high character. He’s willing to go the extra mile to help people out.”
Cowell brings 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 joined Ceres High’s coaching staff in 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.”
The Bulldogs enjoyed one of their best seasons to date during Cowell’s first year as offensive coordinator in 2024.
Ceres High posted a 7-3 overall record and finished in second place in the Western Athletic Conference standings with a 5-2 mark.
The Bulldogs averaged 23.7 points per game.
Just two football teams from Ceres High have won at least seven games in a single season since 2004.
Cowell will continue to call offensive plays for the Bulldogs.
Paul Smith (running backs/special teams), Landyn Hudson (quarterbacks), Cameron Moscozo (offensive line), Antone Lopez (defensive coordinator), Tim Gianosa (defensive line), Alex Casas (linebackers), Anthony Castro (defensive backs) and Josh Unrue (strength and conditioning) make up Cowell’s coaching staff.
“I envisioned this opportunity,” Cowell said while talking about returning to his alma mater to coach football. “I know what I’m up against. Our track record hasn’t been great. We’ve won in the past. We’re doing everything we can to build the program the right way and be successful. We have to win so kids want to come play football for Ceres High.”
Cowell coached at crosstown-rival Central Valley High School for 13 years.
He was the Hawks’ receivers coach on Derrick Goblirsch’s staff in 2023 following a three-year absence.
Cowell took a break to dedicate more time to raising his three children (Cade, Cylee and Chance) with his wife (Amber).
Cade, Cylee and Chance no longer live at home.
Cade and Chance are professional soccer players.
Cade and Chance are currently members of Major League Soccer clubs New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake, respectively.
A three-year standout on Turlock High’s girls soccer team, Cylee was voted California Athletic League Offensive Player of the Year as a senior.
“I didn’t want to miss any of their stuff,” Debin Cowell said. “I needed to be a good dad before I was a good coach. We’re empty-nesters now. They moved out of the house.”
Cowell also worked with running backs and quarterbacks under Central Valley’s first varsity football head coach (Tim Garcia Jr., 2005-2011).
Former Modesto JC head coach Steve DaPrato’s fingerprints are all over Ceres High’s offense.
DaPrato was Cowell’s head coach at Modesto Junior College.
“It’s the same offense we ran at MJC,” Cowell said. “But I’ve added my own wrinkles to it. You take a little bit from everybody. We’re going to be very balanced and move the chains.”
Cowell was a multi-sport standout athlete with the Bulldogs. He was enshrined into Ceres High’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018 for his individual excellence in football and baseball.
Debin’s father Ed Cowell and Ceres High’s undefeated 1968 football team (10-0) were inducted into the Bulldogs’ inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2008. Ed played defensive end for the Mountain Valley League-champion Bulldogs.
Debin earned seven varsity letters at Ceres High, including three in football and four in baseball.
A running back as a sophomore, Cowell starred at quarterback junior and senior years. He earned first-team all-Central California Conference honors.
Cowell was selected to the CCC First Team in baseball as a senior and junior.
He was the conference’s batting-average champ during his final season with the Bulldogs.
Cowell was a two-time all-conference receiver at Modesto Junior College (2000, 2001). He garnered first-team all-NorCal honors as a sophomore.
Cowell transferred to NCAA Division-I San Jose State, where he played receiver for one season.
“I left things on the table for myself,” he said. “I didn’t reach my potential. Everything in life happens for a reason. Watching my kids reach the levels they’re at has been 10 times more enjoyable. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
Cowell has been employed as a special education teacher at Ceres High School since 2024-25. He worked in a similar capacity at Waterford High School from 2017-24.
Cowell attended Ceres High, Mae Hensley Jr. High and Carroll Fowler Elementary.
High-school sweethearts, Debin and his wife Amber have been married for 22 years.
Amber was also a standout Bulldog athlete.
She earned six varsity letters, including four in softball and two in basketball.
“I loved my experiences here as both an athlete and a student, and I want to pass that along to the students on campus,” Debin Cowell stated in a post on Ceres High’s Facebook page after being named Johnson’s successor. “This place has always held a special spot in my heart.”
