Coach Alvistur stepping down
Will continue role as Panthers AD
For the past 15 years, the Chico High football program has been lead by CHS alumnus Jason Alvistur. Entering the 2024-25 season, the Panthers will be searching for a new head coach, as Alvistur announced Thursday that he will be retiring from the position.
“After 15 years of being the varsity head coach at Chico High, I have decided to retire to spend more time with family and amplify my role as athletic director,” Alvsitur said in a news release Thursday. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been able to coach at my alma mater and leave a program that has been competing at a high level for league and section championships. My time here would not have been possible without the support of the Chico High Administration and staff, which I have greatly appreciated.”
When asked about when he knew it was the right time, Alvistur spoke about the tough loss to Pleasant Valley in this year's Northern Section championship game. He didn't want to make an emotional decision at the moment, so gave himself a couple of months to think.
Alvistur has always told himself that if he is not 100% in, it is time to step down. He realized after this season he was not 100% in.
“There's a certain point when you know that you're done, and for me that point is when I am not looking forward to doing the little things anymore,” Alvistur said. “Being a head coach there's so much that goes into the day to day running of the team — getting the guys to come together and buy in and work out, and get ready is such a grind.”
Alvistur thanked his coaching staff and student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to the Panthers' program. He finished by thanking his family.
“Finally, being able to hold a position like this for so long would not be possible without the continued love
and support from my family,” Alvistur said.
The journey
Alvistur took over in 2008 for former head coach Mike Cooper, who resigned after six years with the Panthers. Alvistur coached the Chico High freshman team in 2007 before taking over as the varsity head coach.
In his 15 years as head coach he compiled a record of 104-71, and 107-73 including the unofficial pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
The Panthers were 9-5 in Almond Bowls against Pleasant Valley. Alvistur had a winning record in nine of his 15 seasons as his ` teams finished first in the Eastern Athletic League standings twice (2019-20, 2023-24), second in the EAL standings five times (2011-12, 201415, 2017-18, 2018-19, 202122) and runner up in the Northern Section Championship four times (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2023-24).
The biggest accomplishment for any of Alvistur's teams came in 202122, when the Panthers finished 9-4 and second in the EAL standings but went on to win Chico's first Northern Section championship since 1990. The Panthers lost their next game to Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in the CIF Division 4-A NorCal Regional final.
Alvistur reflected on a couple of memories that stood out. The first one he mentioned was the Panthers' 27-14 victory in the Almond Bowl in 2008, in Alvistur's first year as the varsity head coach. That was Chico's second win in the last 10 Almond Bowls. He also mentioned the Panthers' overtime victory against PV in the 2014 Almond Bowl, the first Almond Bowl to go into overtime.
Alvistur next mentioned the Panthers' NSCIF championship in 2021-22 against Foothill, despite losing star running back Dion Coleman to a season-ending knee injury halfway through the season.
“That was a season where you lose your best player in the middle of the season, and I think everyone turns and looks at each other and says, `Great, now what?'” Alvistur said. “The team responded with, `We're going to pick up the pieces.' I think as a coach, you're always searching for that team that has that special camaraderie and willingness to come together, and that team in its own unique way did that.”
Lastly, Alvistur spoke about his final team he coached in 2023-24.
“This team last year was a really special team. I really enjoyed coaching them,” Alvistur said. “I'm really thankful to have coached them. Despite losing that last game, it was a really enjoyable and rewarding season. It made it easier to hang up the whistle. If I had a season that was full of strife or we didn't win games, it would've been harder to walk away with my chin up in a positive feeling, but I really feel like I can walk away with my chin up and a lot of positive thoughts and positive memories about coaching.”
In the release it stated that Chico High School will immediately begin the search for a new head coach for the 2024-25 season.
“We are grateful for Jason Alvistur's unwavering dedication, leadership and time spent mentoring and shaping exceptional athletes within our football program,” said Chico High School Principal Doug Williams. “Once a Panther, always a Panther. Alvistur's proactive and collaborative focus as Athletic Director will continue to inspire and grow our competitive sports program.”