Derrick Goblirsch has experienced success coaching Central Valley’s football and baseball teams.

Goblirsch’s newest challenge will be to try to turn around the high school’s girls basketball program.

He was hired a week before the 2024-25 season started.

“I had always wanted to coach basketball,” Goblirsch said. “Last year, I did JV boys. When the girls job opened up, (Central Valley Athletic Director) Greg Magni reached out. I had a conversation with my family. We decided it would be a good change of pace for us.”

Goblirsch replaced Ryan Donnelly, who led the Hawks to a 9-79 overall record during his four-year tenure as head coach.

“I’m fully committed,” Goblirsch stated. “The preparation and coaching is a lot different. It’s a learning process. Their personalities are different. There’s not as much ego involved.”

The Hawks have a roster size of 12 players.

“If we can increase the numbers, that’s a key to building a successful program,” said Goblirsch, who teaches ninth-grade P.E. and coaches varsity football at Central Valley. “It’s going to take some time.”

Central Valley returns five players from last year’s team, including Marion Dennison (Sr.), Julyanna Valencia (Jr.), Emily Mariani (Jr.), Lily Madrigal (So.) and Valeria Padilla (So.).

The Hawks have seven newcomers: Tanveer Kaur (Sr.), Becca Buenrostro (Jr.), Dulce Del Valle (Jr.), Alayah Villa (Jr.), Emily Carranza (So.), Reylena Herrera (So.) and Valeria Lopez (So.).

“We’re just trying to compete every game,” Goblirsch said. “We got a good, young core. I’m excited to see what they can do this year.”

Villa and Herrera both competed at the junior-varsity level this past winter.

Lopez and Carrera contributed at the frosh level.

Kaur, Buenrostro and Del Valle are first-year players.

The Hawks lost two players to graduation, including Jannet Valencia and Jenny Mejia.

Dennison and Julyanna Valencia have been named team captains.

“It was an easy decision,” Goblirsch said. “They’re our leaders on the court. They put in great effort all the time. Their experience goes a long way.”

Vanessa Goblirsch, Derrick’s wife, joined Central Valley’s coaching staff.

Vanessa, an elementary P.E. teacher for Ceres Unified School District, has an athletic-trainer background.

“She helps out quite a bit,” Derrick said. “We mesh well together.”

The Goblirschs have two children: Ella (9) and Zeke (7).

“It’s been special to have them out there,” Derrick said. “The kids get to practice with the girls. They enjoy it.”

Central Valley amassed a 3-24 overall record and finished in last place in the Central California Conference standings with a 1-11 mark last winter.

The Hawks could close the competitive gap this season.

Central Valley moved from the CCC to the WAC as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s league realignment plan.

The Hawks had a combined record of 2-34 in CCC play the past three years.

“For the girls, I think it’s a good change,” Goblirsch said. 

The new-look WAC features eight teams, including Central Valley, Ceres High, Livingston, Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Lathrop and Pacheco.

Los Banos and Mountain House relocated to the WAC and Valley Oak League, respectively.

Livingston previously competed in the Trans Valley League.

“There are some really good teams in the WAC,” Goblirsch said. “If the girls play hard, we’ll be able to compete with every team in our league. That’s our goal. It would mean a lot if we had a chance to make playoffs.”

Central Valley and Ceres High will battle for more than crosstown bragging rights.

Results could decide a league champion and playoff qualifiers.

“This will be my first time experiencing it (the crosstown rivalry) in a girls sports,” Goblirsch said. 

“That game is always important,” he added. “Hopefully, the girls will have the right mentality going into it.”

Central Valley secured its last playoff berth under Jesse Padilla’s guidance in 2016-17. The Hawks went 11-13 record and finished second in the Western Athletic Conference (7-3).

Central Valley claimed three league titles and qualified for the playoffs five times during Padilla’s 15-year tenure as head coach (2005-2020).

The Hawks had a combined record of 14-139 the past seven seasons.

Central Valley has nowhere to go but up.

Goblirsch is focusing on boosting participation numbers.

The Hawks competed with an eight-person roster last winter.

“If we can put a good program out there, it will inspire more kids to come out,” he said.