Charlie Casale, who has served as Coast Union High’s offensive coordinator the past two seasons, has been hired to replace Chuck Garcia, the head coach the past two seasons.

Garcia stepped down following the season as he’s working on his teaching credential in hopes of landing a full-time teaching position. 

The Broncos were 7-3 this past season and advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division I 8-man playoffs.

Casale has served as a head coach at Mt. Whitney High in Visalia for 20 years before serving in assistant roles lately with the Broncos. He said he is eagerly taking his first steps as Coast Union head coach — talking to the players 1-on-1, 2-on-1, and sometimes 3-on-1 in the coach’s office on campus.

“It’s tremendously important — especially in a smaller school — for the coach to have a good relationship with his players,” Casale explained.  “The kids have to buy in to what you’re doing.”

He’s listening to what the players are saying in order to help them feel that they not only have input to the program, but that they have ownership as well.

 “I could do it a certain way and the kids would accept it,” Casale said. “But why not have input from the kids? The kids know the system, they know the philosophy, they know the routes to run. There’s a good foundation here, and I’m going to build on that foundation.”