Hardy Nickerson has been appointed as the new head football coach at JSerra Catholic in San Juan Capistrano, just five days after leading Bishop O’Dowd to a state championship victory. The announcement was made by JSerra Catholic on Wednesday, marking a significant move for Nickerson, who will become the first Black head football coach in the history of the Trinity League.
Nickerson’s tenure at Bishop O’Dowd included notable achievements, such as three consecutive North Coast Section postseason appearances and a decisive win against Christian-El Cajon with a score of 37-0 in the CIF Division 5-AA state championship on December 12, 2025. Under his leadership, the team rebounded from a challenging start to the season, finishing with an impressive record of 31 wins and 17 losses across his second stint at the Oakland school.
In a highly competitive coaching search, Nickerson’s hiring comes as part of a broader trend in the high school sports community, which has seen numerous coaching changes this season. According to JSerra Catholic, Nickerson was selected from an applicant pool exceeding 100 candidates, which included prominent figures such as former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers.
In an email to the school’s football parents, JSerra stated, “I am very pleased to inform you that we hired Hardy Nickerson as our varsity head coach.” The position offers an annual salary of up to $200,000, making it one of the most lucrative coaching roles in the state.
Returning to his roots, Nickerson is a graduate of Verbum Dei High School in Los Angeles. He takes over from Victor Santa Cruiz, who was dismissed from his coaching position last month. Following the championship win, Nickerson expressed pride in his team’s perseverance, particularly after overcoming a challenging 1-3 start to the season. He stated, “I’m just proud of this team, so proud of these young men. They were dead in the water at 1-3, but the kids just kept buying in, kept working and kept coming to practice, and things started to turn around.”
While Nickerson’s departure leaves Bishop O’Dowd with a strong returning roster, he refrained from discussing the future of the program immediately after securing the championship. He emphasized the need to celebrate the moment before looking ahead.
As he transitions to JSerra Catholic, Nickerson aims to build on his successful coaching career and further his contributions to high school football in California. His leadership will undoubtedly bring a new dynamic to the JSerra program, as he seeks to uphold the tradition of excellence within the competitive Trinity League.
