BRENTWOOD — Heritage football coach Dave Fogelstrom has stepped down after five seasons, the school announced on Thursday.
Fogelstrom, who was 27-23 during his tenure at the Brentwood school, has cited health problems as the reason for his departure from the program. This past year, he led Heritage to its second consecutive North Coast Section semifinal, marking the first time the school has ever made it past the first round of the section playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
“I’ve loved every minute of it and know that we have raised the expectations for Heritage football by reaching the semifinals in the last two seasons,” Fogelstrom said in a statement. “Unfortunately, for the past year I have been battling a hip issue that I put on the back burner for the past two football seasons, an off-season training period and my daughter’s wedding. But with those things complete, I am no longer at a point where I can ignore that and know now that I am in need of a hip replacement sometime this coming spring or summer.”
Fogelstrom has been a constant in the Bay Valley Athletic League, coaching in the East Contra Costa since 1993. He helped turn around a Heritage program that was a combined 3-17 in the two seasons before he became head coach.
“We are going to miss Coach Fogelstrom’s incredible leadership in our football program,” athletic director Nate Smith said in a statement. “His attention to detail has been second to none, his weekly communication in my office has made each season a joy to be part of, and the way in which got the absolute best results out of his athletes is a testament to his ability as both a coach and teacher.”
Fogelstrom will continue to be a teacher at Heritage and said he hopes the program continues to flourish even in his absence.
“While not achieving all of our goals, we leave the program in a very good place,” he said. “The program gets incredible support from parents and students, there is an amazing competitive spirit, and the foundation is on solid ground. I also wanted to inform everyone of this decision before the holidays, so our administration could get going on the replacement process and get our kids going as soon as possible with the new head coach.”