Trent Herzog out as Casa Grande High School football coach

Longtime Casa Grande football coach Trent Herzog has been released by school administrators dissatisfied with the direction of the Gauchos’ football program.

Casa principal Eric Backman confirmed late Tuesday that he met with Herzog and they agreed to a separation, effective immediately.

“Trent Herzog and I met today and agree that the coaching contract for the 2017-18 season will not be renewed, without cause,” Backman said in a written statement.

“This decision is made with mutual agreement and respect. Casa Grande High School has decided to take the program in a different direction.”

Coaches, typically, work on annual agreements and can be released with or without cause. They are paid a small stipend to coach.

Herzog would not say what he thought might have been the genesis of the administration’s dissatisfaction with him, but said late Tuesday he was grateful for the community support and that of the administration over his eight years as head coach and 26 years associated with the school.

“I can walk on the campus any time with my head held high,” he said. “I love Casa Grande football.”

Backman declined to be more specific about the reasons for the decision, citing personnel privacy rules.

“The next steps the school takes are going to be based on consideration for our student-athletes,” he said. “I want to make sure they know that our commitment to an excellent athletic program is unwavering. We’re going to work to take steps to that end.”

Since being promoted to the head coaching position in 2009 from his longtime assistant role, Herzog, 41, compiled a 66-34 record.

His Gauchos won two league titles, went undefeated in league twice and advanced to the playoffs every year.

Twelve former Gauchos have won major-college scholarships, including nine full-ride scholarships to Division I schools after Herzog became head coach. A total of 26 former players under Herzog went on to play in college.

In Herzog’s first two years, he led the team to 11-2 records. In 2013, the Gauchos went a perfect 7-0 in the NBL and advanced to the North Coast Section Division 2 championship game.

News of the move disturbed many Casa Grande students, parents and football fans, dozens of whom expressed their displeasure on social media and vowed to seek a reconsideration of Backman’s decision.

About three dozen parents and students demonstrated in front of the school Tuesday morning, standing on the sidewalk holding signs reading “We want answers,” “Coach Herzog unjustly fired” and “Trent Herzog is Casa gold.”

It was unclear how long the move was in the works. The team finished fifth in league play this season (3-4, 4-7 overall), the only under-.500 league season under Herzog.

The past three seasons, the Gauchos have finished with losing records overall.

Late last week, Herzog met with his team to discuss the upcoming offseason training schedule.

But shortly after that, a source said, he met with Backman to discuss the future.

Football players first discovered something was amiss with their program when they showed up Monday for what was supposed to be the first offseason training session.

“They showed up and there were no coaches, no nothing. That’s how they found out,” said Jesi Mifsud, whose son, Ian, is a football player. “It’s just wrong.”

She said some parents plan to voice their concerns at this week’s Petaluma City Schools board meeting in hopes of a reversal. Backman said that is impossible, as Herzog agreed to the “mutual parting.”

“He’s an amazing man, a great person. The kids so look up to him,” Mifsud said. “He has created a team that has such strong value systems and such respect. Everything we want our kids to be, he is instilling in them.”

Herzog’s family is well known in Petaluma. He was born in Santa Rosa, but raised on a Petaluma dairy farm. His parents, Marilyn and Max “Kip” Herzog, owned Sleepy Hollow Dairy and are well-known contributors to agricultural and community events and causes.

Herzog Hall at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds is named after his grandfather.

Herzog played football at Casa Grande for four years and helped coach the freshman team the following season. Aside from one year as an assistant at Analy, Herzog has been a Gaucho ever since.

Several years ago, he opened Luma Fitness (formerly SPD Factory) and has been a strength and conditioning coach for more than 15 years.

At age 33, he was tapped to become the new head football coach at Casa. This came after a decade and a half in the program as a player and coach.

Herzog said he will use the time away from coaching as an opportunity to focus on friends, family and himself, and perhaps travel.

He remains a well-connected coach, scout and recruiter.

Herzog is in charge of Northern California, Oregon and Washington for XOS Digital, a respected college recruiting firm. He is also on the selection committee for the Under Armour All-American game.

“I’m not getting out of the industry,” he said. “I’ll still help the Casa kids. They’re my family.

“I’m going to coach again, whether it’s in high school or college.”

Herzog was one of a handful of coaches invited to help University of Alabama coaching legend Nick Saban at his elite football camp in Tuscaloosa last year.

The first of Casa Grande’s two league championships under Herzog’s leadership came in 2010, his second year, when the team went 6-0 in the Sonoma County League.

In 2013, having been moved to the North Bay League, the team finished 13-1 overall, going all the way to the CIF North Coast Section Division 2 championship game. Miramonte won the championship 41-28.

The past few years haven’t been as successful on the field as Herzog’s first, but the teams continued to qualify for the playoffs each season.

This past fall, the Gauchos finished fifth in the NBL at 3-4 and 4-7 overall. They lost to Redwood in the first round of the playoffs.

Backman said no other coaches were let go on Tuesday.

“The coaching staff remains intact,” Backman said.

Assistant coaches reached Tuesday said they were told not to comment.

You can reach Lori A. Carter at 707-521-5470 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.