El Capitan High names new football coach. Why he’s excited for the future of the program.
El Capitan High School is turning to a familiar face to lead the Gauchos’ football program.
Xavier Ramirez has been named head coach. Ramirez coached the junior varsity team the past two seasons, and has been coaching in the Gauchos’ program for the past six years,
Ramirez, 40, takes over for former head coach Jordan Irsik, who recently stepped down after just one season to spend more time with his family.
Ramirez becomes the fourth Gauchos head coach in the past four seasons.
Former head coach Randall Bartley resigned after his second season in 2021. His replacement, Anthony Martinez, was fired after just one season and Irsik departed after one year.
Ramirez has been through the coaching carousel as an assistant and lower-level coach. He says the program has desperately lacked stability.
“We need it,” Ramirez said. “It needs to be our heartbeat. We need coaches to stay. We need all our coaches speaking the same language. We need consistency. ... We want an all-around great program built on culture and integrity. We want a program that kids want to be a part of.”
Ramirez has worked the last three years as a para instructor at the school and worked as a campus liaison at El Capitan for three years prior to that.
The revolving door attached to the coaching office has led to a lack of success on the field. El Capitan had compiled a 3-41 record the five years prior to finishing a program best 4-10 last year.
“Last year Xavier interviewed for the job against Jordan and it was a super-tough decision,” said El Capitan principal Megan Cope. “So even before Xavier was named the head coach I knew he had the knowledge and the passion for the kids.”
“We set a positive trajectory last year,” Cope added. “We had to fill in the gaps where needed, but we feel we have the right equation to continue that success and continue to grow.”
Ramirez credits Irsik in getting the program headed in the right direction. He plans to continue running similar offensive and defensive schemes. With close to 165 players in the program, including over 20 players with varsity experience returning, there is excitement for the potential going forward.
“There’s a lot of great players and a lot of talent here,” Ramirez said. “This will be the JV team I had two years ago. Now they are seniors. They know how to lead and how to create a good culture in the program.”
Ramirez graduated from Golden Valley High in Merced in 2001. He played for longtime coaches including Dennis Stubbs and Kevin Swartwood in high school.
Ramirez says most of the coaching staff will stay intact, including assistants Rod Davenport and Alex Martinez.
“We have guys here who genuinely care about the students and want to see them succeed,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez says his military background serving in the Army, including two tours in Iraq, helped shape him as a coach.
“I want to show them what a brotherhood is and I want to surround myself with guys I trust who have the same values and principals,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez says it’s an honor to take over as head coach.
“The foundation is set, the players are better, the coaches are better on staff,” Ramirez said. “We have support from the school. I thank Coach Jordan Irsik for everything he brought to our program. We’re going to take a lot of the good and continue to build on what he built.”
