Jeremy Topete steps down as Hesperia football coach

The high school football regular season has ended, but the first coaching domino has fallen as Hesperia coach Jeremy Topete has stepped down after seven seasons at the helm of the Scorpions.
Topete said his resignation had nothing to do with the incident last week in which Hesperia players vandalized the Oak Hills field and Hesperia ended up forfeiting the game.
“This is something I had talked to my athletic director a month ago,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity. The administration and staff has given a lot of support.”
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Topete said he is planning on spending more time with his family, which includes two sons, ages 9 and 7.
“I’ve been devoting my time to other kids for the last 18 years,” Topete said. “Now I need to spend more time with my own.”
Topete said he plans on continuing to teach at Hesperia and will “take a year off” from coaching. He did not say he would definitely coach again, only that he would consider it after a year.
Topete compiled a 25-48 record in seven seasons after taking over the program when Robert Kistner left to become the first head coach at Oak Hills. He led the Scorpions to the playoffs in 2013 and 2014 (winning a playoff game), and was 3-7 this year.
He said he hopes last week’s incident doesn’t mar how people view his tenure at the school.
“The people around us know the good things we’ve done,” Topete said. “It’s not about one incident of a prank that went too far.”
Topete said he got positive reaction after forfeiting last week’s game.
“The reaction I got was nothing but positive, texts from people,” he said.

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Hesperia football forfeits game against Oak Hills after vandalism

The Hesperia football program will forfeits tonight’s Mojave River League game against Oak Hills after a group of Hesperia student-athletes vandalized the football stadium, according to the Victor Valley Daily Press.

In the report, Bulldogs’ head coach Robert Kistner said the Hesperia players had spray-painted an expletive on the field, defecated in the bleachers and egged the Oak Hills’ press box.

The Bulldogs conclude the regular season at 5-5 overall and 4-1 in Mojave River League play. The Scorpions finish at 3-7 overall and 1-4 in the MRL.

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Staying level-headed a key for Hesperia, Yucaipa

This week among the conversations I had with coaches were ones with Hesperia’s Jeremy Topete and Yucaipa’s Justin Price.

I wasn’t able to write anything about it in a prep football notebook, but wanted to mention some of the thoughts in a blog post.

Both coaches have a similar problem: they want to keep their team on an even keel, but they are coming at it from different sides.

Continue reading “Staying level-headed a key for Hesperia, Yucaipa” »

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