Central Valley High School's varsity baseball program has a new leader.

Derrick Goblirsch, a 2005 Ceres High grad and an assistant with the Hawks for the past two seasons, earned a promotion. He also teaches math at the school.

"It's a great opportunity I couldn't pass up," Derrick said. "It's something that I've always wanted to do. There are definitely some expectations. We graduated the MVP of the league. But we still have a lot of talent coming back."

Goblirsch replaces founding head coach Greg Magni, who stepped down to become Central Valley's new athletic director.

"It was an easy choice," Magni said. "I didn't think about other options. I think it will be a smooth transition. We have a lot of things in common. He's taking over the program at the same age I started it. He's very knowledgeable about the game of baseball. He's very organized and focused. I don't see any reason why he won't be successful."

Added Goblirsch: "It was his (Magni's) job to hire. He knows what I'm about and how I coach. I played for him in high school. We have different personalities. But we're both really competitive."

Derrick was Central Valley's pitching coach in 2013 and 2012.

Magni filled the same position during Goblirsch's junior and senior years at Ceres High.

Magni and Goblirsch played baseball for Cal State Stanislaus for four and two years, respectively.

Greg helped Derrick coach JV football at Central Valley last fall.

"I've known Derrick since he was a freshman in high school," Magni said. "I knew he'd be perfect for coaching. At an early age, you could see the attributes. He fits the mold. He's an intelligent guy. I think he's going to do an excellent."

Central Valley enjoyed a breakthrough year under Magni's guidance in 2013.

The Hawks qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the first time, posted a 19-9 overall record and finished third in the Western Athletic Conference standings (6-6).

Central Valley had a 1-1 mark versus seven-time WAC champion Central Catholic.

The Hawks beat the crosstown Bulldogs 9-5 on their way to a first-place finish at Art McRae Tournament on April 4.
Central Valley topped Division-I postseason participant Pitman 12-0 on March 1.

"Our program's going in the right direction," Derrick said. "There's no sense in changing anything."

Goblirsch was named Ceres High's Male Athlete of the Year twice (2005, 2004) as voted on by a panel of coaches.
Derrick excelled in football, baseball and basketball.
He passed for 1,932 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to leading the football team to a share of the Modesto Metro Conference championship--just its third league title since 1968--and into Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Playoffs for the second year in a row. Goblirsch garnered second-team, all-league honors.

Derrick was an honorable-mention selection in baseball. He batted .342 with one homer, four doubles, 20 singles, 14 runs and 13 RBI s in 24 games for the Bulldogs, who compiled a 10-14 overall record. He also had two wins as a pitcher.

Goblirsch was a four-year starter on Ceres High's varsity boys basketball team.

"He's a Ceres guy," Magni said. "It's nice that he's giving back to the community he was a part of his whole life. It's a neat thing. He'll get an opportunity to put his own stamp on the program. I expect them to be good again. He doesn't expect anything less. He's willing to put in the time and effort to keep it going in the right direction. Central Valley's got a bright future."