When they succeed, I succeed.
It’s a saying that Pete Hernandez said applies to his students and the athletes he coaches.
Hernandez is a Special Education teacher and the head football and baseball coach at Del Oro. One of those things is about to change, though. After this season, Hernandez said he plans to turn over head coaching duties for baseball to focus primarily on leading the football program.
“Football is a bond that me and my father share until this day,” he said. “Every Sunday (it was) football. Even if we lose it’s football, a meal, and time being spent together.”
Before Hernandez found his passion in coaching and teaching, he had worked toward a career in law enforcement and graduated from the police academy. However, he said he didn’t like the things he saw and decided to pursue a career path where he could help change students’ futures before they got into trouble with the law.
“My first six months … I had seen things that at a very young age I wasn’t ready to see, and it haunted me and it just wasn’t for me,” he said. “So I thought, what’s a way that I can work with you guys before you get to the point where I have to put handcuffs on you.”
Hernandez said he chose to focus on helping special needs students because they often carry a negative stigma that he wants to change.
“Everybody wants a legacy, right? Everybody wants to be remembered for something, right?” he said. “Sometimes we have many outlets. We can be a great parent. We can be a great friend. I just want my legacy to be the fact that I gave back to you guys and did the best in my power to motivate you guys to do better.”
Hernandez said he does what he does because he loves it, but most of all he loves helping students and motivating them by doing something he loves.
Students look up to him and know that his support and advice is always open to any of those who need it. Senior Kimberly Becerra brings out the truth in this statement.
“He’s like a dad,” said Becerra, who is one of the football team’s student managers. “He makes sure you put in the effort and that you know you got this. He might yell at you here and there but it’s kind of part of what makes him a good coach.”
When asked if he believes that the students he coaches need him, Hernandez responded “yes” without hesitation. His confidence has a reason behind it, though. Hernandez explained, “I would like to think that I bring a certain aspect of coaching in life that other coaches can’t necessarily do. I’ve been around, and I’ve had success in all my other programs.”
Hernandez said he enjoys coaching, but it’s coaching specifically at Del Oro that he enjoys.
Prior to coming to Del Oro, Hernandez coached football at Bakersfield High and Garces High. He was named head coach at Del Oro in 2022 after the team’s first season and described the move as a “leap of faith.”
And while he’s had many opportunities to coach elsewhere at bigger schools in the area, he’s turned down every offer and chosen to stay at Del Oro.
“I love it here. I know what needs to be done here,” he said. “I know what everyone needs to do here to go to college.”
Daniel Oats, a junior wide receiver and safety on the football team, described Hernandez as “definitely the best [coach] that I’ve had.”
“He gives great coaching advice. During football season I see him as my coach, but outside of football I see him as my friend, as my mentor,” Oats said. “I think I’ve gotten to build that relationship with him to where I can just go and talk and chat it up with him because of the hard work I put into football.”
When asked to describe Hernandez in one word, Oats chose “inspiring.” It’s an appropriate word for people of character like Hernandez.
When it comes to modesty and confidence, Hernandez is well-balanced. Altruism is something Hernandez has plenty of, and he’s always wishing success upon others just as he does for himself.
“At the end of a win I reiterate to [my players] how proud I am, how amazing they are, and how if they just continue to be amazing, nobody can beat them,” he said.
Sunburst staff writer Robin Lopez-Mendoza contributed to this story.
