From an academic coach at Los Padres Elementary School to football coach here at Alisal, Cesar Chaidez will be filling the shoes vacated by Jimmy Lockwood as head Varsity coach next season. This will be the second year Chaidez coaches for Alisal and he plans on implementing  both a foundation of life skills and football etiquette in his players. “It’s about being disciplined in the classroom and the weight room, along with learning the values that are important to succeed in life,” he states. His academic background with youth has allowed him to become an influential mentor for the players. Senior Peter Birruete, Varsity defensive tackle, agrees that Chaidez has become both a dependable coach and guide, “Coach Chaidez always made sure to keep the team united and pushed me to become a better person in both the field and classroom.”    

Chaidez is no stranger to the football program at Alisal. He started his coaching career at the same time he started teaching, about 16 years ago. He has previously coached flag-football at the 3rd grade level, baseball at the youth level,  and then transitioned to Salinas High for 10 years as a rotating football coach. He started off as the head freshman coach, then progressed as the head JV coach, and then finally as the head coach for all three levels. Despite his 10 year experience at Salinas High, Chaidez always had a connection with Alisal and decided to make the change this past season. “My sister, (Assistant Principal) Gloria Chaidez works here, I’ve had cousins who have gone here, and people had always told me that the kids all Alisal are great,” he states. Football being his forte, Chaidez has decided to commit his future coaching career to Alisal football.  

Discipline and character are key factors that are vital inside the classroom, but even more so on the football field. Having previously taught 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade for the past 16 years at Los Padres Elementary School, Chaidez believes behavior inside the classroom and on the playing field go hand in hand. He is a current academic coach at the elementary school and has made the efforts of educating the message of education and discipline to all of his students and players. “My ultimate goal is to instill the players with the values that are important to succeed in life: work ethic, discipline, integrity, and character,” he states. Chaidez plans to offer a dynamic of life skills that will in turn benefit the players in the long term which can be achieved through the coaches’ consistent reinforcement, modeling, and support. “We lose all credibility as adults if we cannot hold ourselves to these expectations,we enable the behavior we are trying to change by being caring and committed adults and allowing our Trojan players to grow with daily affirmations and positive and negative enforcement.”

The short term goal in playing football is winning, but Chaidez believes that it is the knowledge the players transfer from the field into outside settings that will help them develop into stronger players. In other words, Chaidez’s reason for coaching goes beyond just the vision of beating the opposing team. “Winning isn’t the priority, once they learn that discipline, hard work, and resiliency all pays off, the winning comes.” This system is something Chaidez holds firm belief in and is expecting a successful outcome in both the player’s academic and athletic performance. “Success is predicated on two things: confidence and execution of our systems.” However, he understands that change is not easy and does not happen overnight, ”Ultimately, we can’t affect the positive change we want to see, accountability for our actions is key to affecting change.” Varsity Right Guard, Carlos Angeles, a graduating senior, is grateful for Chaidez’s patience and coaching style. “He was the first coach to take his time and actually explain things to me, while most would just yell at me until I got the play right. He’s probably the best linemen coach I’ve had.” Although other coaches have decided to leave the football program, there are other coaches that have joined. “ Any coach that joins our program will help our kids because it is understood that great coaches are great teachers,” said Chaidez.

Chaidez’s passion for football only makes his time even more enjoyable, “Last year was my first year at Alisal and I loved it, I love being able to see the kids achieve their goals,” he says. He has already made many connections with the players and has devoted his time every weekday to train with the football players during the preseason. His first year’s experience was a success and is excited to pursue his time at Alisal even further, “I’m living the dream right now, I plan on staying here for the next 10, 20, 30 years.”