University High School
2019 Coaching Staff
Coach Hernandez is entering his first year as Head Football Coach at University High School. Hernandez comes to UNI after serving Santiago High School as an assistant coach in football and in Track & Field for two years. Coach Hernandez believes his time working under Santiago Head Coach, Scott Morrison was invaluable and inspired him to pursue an opportunity to lead a football program. Hernandez says "Coach Morrison is a class act, the type of men he is building at Santiago made me even more sure that I want to be a head coach. I love Santiago, and will always root for the Sharks."
Before arriving at Santiago, Coach Hernandez worked for Head Coach Steve Hill at Corona High School for three years. In 2014 Hernandez was hired as a World History/AVID teacher. In his first season coaching for the Panthers, Hernandez coached Safeties and coordinated the Special Teams. During the Spring of 2015, Coach Hill promoted Coach Hernandez to Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach. During that season, the Panther offense averaged 34 points and 380 yards per game while earning Corona's first playoff berth in five years. In 2016, the Panthers broke a number of offensive records including Passing yards in a season, receiving yards in a season, Passing Attempts, and Completions. Coach Hernandez says that "Coach Hill was a great coach to work for. He continues to be one of my best friends, and I still talk to him almost every day. He mentored me, supported me, challenged me, and helped me grow as a coach. I enjoyed every minute of my time at Corona High, the players and my students became a family, and I still keep in contact with many of them."
Coach Hernandez started his coaching career at his alma mater, Diamond Bar High School, where he played receiver for the Brahmas. Hernandez began coaching Receivers and Defensive Backs in 2008 under then Head Coach, John Martin. From 2009-2010 Hernandez coached both Varsity and JV, serving as the Head Coach and calling plays on offense for the latter. In 2011, Diamond Bar's Varsity Offensive Coordinator, Ryan Maine was named Head Coach and promoted Hernandez to Varsity Offensive Coordinator. Coach Maine is responsible for getting Coach Hernandez into coaching since they both attended High School together. Coach Maine's goal was to get Diamond Bar back to the playoffs, and in 2013, after a 10 year drought, Diamond Bar beat Downey 63-29 in the First Round of the playoffs. Reflecting on his time at Diamond Bar, Hernandez notes "I owe Coach Maine so much, we always dreamed of coaching together, and when I graduated college he encouraged me to come out and coach our alma mater. Coach Maine was a groomsmen in my wedding, and I was one in his. He taught me how important it is to be organized as a coach."
During his six years at Diamond Bar, Coach Hernandez worked for The System Camps from 2010-2014, and the owner Donny Walker in the summers. He had the opportunity to travel to Oregon, Washington, and Connecticut, working will college coaches, installing the Spread, No Huddle, Up Tempo Offense.
"Donny Walker is an incredible coach, and I was so blessed to work those camps, and just soak in all the knowledge those guys brought to the table. I wish I could still do it" Coach Hernandez said of working for The System Camps.
Coach Hernandez is a credentialed Social Science and P.E. teacher, and hopes to be on campus in the fall. He lives in Laguna Niguel with his beautiful wife Brandy, an assistant principal in Westminster, and his two sons, Emmett (6) and Wyatt (2).
Coach Hernandez can't wait to lead the young men in the UNI football program to be victorious in all aspects of life.
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To read more on Coach Hernandez' hiring, click the link below
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