Nimrat Chahal has been promoted to head coach of Central Valley High School’s boys tennis program.

Chahal replaced fellow 2015 CVHS grad/former Hawk player Alexis Villa, who stepped down after being hired as a teacher at Whitmore Charter School. 

Previous leader Mike Rodriguez will assist Chahal. Rodriguez coached Chahal and Villa.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” said 26-year-old Chahal, who also teaches U.S. History and coaches girls tennis at his alma mater. “I want the school I went to, to have success.”

“I’m definitely grateful for this opportunity,” he added. “To have (Greg) Magni as an AD (athletic director), he’s so good to work with. Rodriguez has had a huge influence on my life from coach to co-worker to friend. He’s the reason I’m here. I’ve known him since I was 13. He’s one of the best people I’ve met in my life.”

Chahal inherits a program, which has made just three Sac-Joaquin Section playoff appearances during its existence. The Hawks secured their last postseason berth in 2022.

“We’re trying to rebuild, which is hard,” he said. “The more kids you have that play consistently, that’s going to lead to success. You have to have a special group. You have to stick together for four years.”

The Hawks return 10 players from last year’s team, including Anantah Sivongxay (Jr.), Israel Guajardo (So.), Dylan Chauhan (Sr.), Jose Avila (Jr.), Uriel Mendoza (Sr.), Avori Ortega (So.), Leonardo Monroy (Sr.), Silas Rodriguez (So.), Jaylan Tagadaya (So.) and Alexander Aguilar (So.).

Central Valley has eight newcomers: Isaiah Ramos (Fr.), Leonardo Navarro (Fr.), Darien Pongbandith (Jr.), Rehman Ali (Fr.), Leonardo Lagunas (Fr.), Erik Muniz (So.), Christian Jimenez Gomez (Fr.) and Juan Ramirez (Sr.).

Enrique Lepe, Jesus Hernandez, Jonathan Macias and Nicolas Gil were lost to graduation.

“We have a lot of returners but not a lot of guys that have played varsity matches,” Chahal said. “They were in and out of the lineup. We lack experience.”

Sivongxay and Chauhan are team leaders.

“They’ve been in our program the longest,” Chahal said. “They lead by examples. They do things the right way.”

Sivongxay, Guajardo and Chauhan will fill the No. 1, 2 and 3 singles spots, respectively, in Central Valley’s lineup.

Sivongxay, Guajardo and Chauhan played No. 3, 6 and 4 singles last spring.

Avila, Mendoza and Ortega will also contribute at singles this season.

Monroy, Rodriguez, Tagadaya, Aguilar, Ramos and Navarro will log playing time at doubles.

The Hawks’ Central California Conference schedule will include home-and-away matches versus Patterson, Merced, Golden Valley, El Capitan, Buhach Colony and Atwater.

Central Valley amassed a 1-11 record while tying for last place in the CCC standings with Buhach Colony last spring.

The Hawks experienced their last winning season in 2022. Central Valley compiled an 8-4 record while placing third in the CCC.The Hawks returned to the playoffs following a six-year absence.

Central Valley advanced to the postseason three times under Rodriguez’s guidance.

“It’s hard to measure team success this year because we lack experience,” Chahal said. “I think we’ll finish in the middle of the pack. We’re not a playoff team yet. I’m looking at how our individual players are playing and if they’re improving.”

Central Valley will move from the CCC to the Western Athletic Conference as part of the section’s league realignment plan next school year.

“It’s going to be different adjusting to a new league,” Chahal said. “It’s been fun being in the CCC, getting to know all of the coaches.”

“We’ll be more competitive and compete for one of the top two spots (in the WAC),” he added. “Tennis is a hard sport to win at. I want to win something here.”

Chahal helped lead the Hawks to back-to-back playoffs berths (2015, 2014) as a doubles player.

He’s been an assistant coach with the Hawks for the past eight years. He became a full-time teacher at Central Valley in 2022-23.

“The transition (from assistant to head coach) has been easy,” Chahal said. “My role really hasn’t changed. I just have a little more responsibility now.” 

Ceres High will not field a boys tennis team for the second year in a row due to a lack of interest.