River Valley tabs Sherman as head coach

The two-month search for a new head varsity football coach ended on Wednesday for River Valley High as the Falcons pegged former Del Oro assistant Bill Sherman as the program's new leader.

The hire was approved by the Yuba City Unified School District on Tuesday night and Sherman was informed of the decision Wednesday morning.

The 25-year-old Sherman takes over for Brandon Asher, who stepped down in November after four years of running the program to fill the post of varsity baseball coach.

Sherman becomes the fourth coach in RV football history. The Falcons began competing at the varsity level in the fall of 2006.

Sherman spent the last three seasons coaching at his alma mater Del Oro, serving as the Golden Eagles' varsity defensive line coach. He was co-head coach of the Del Oro JV team this past season.

He began his first semester of teaching on Monday and works in River Valley's physical education department.

Though limited in coaching experience, Sherman said he's going to bring enthusiasm and energy to a program "on the rise."

"It was kind of surreal when I first found out I got the job," he said. "The more I think I about it, I realized I've got a lot of connections through the coaching world and a huge support staff behind me, including a lot of former coaches who would bend over backwards to help me.

"The more I got myself prepared for this, the stress has gone down and I feel a lot more comfortable."

Sherman had an exceptional prep career at Del Oro.

A 2006 graduate, Sherman was named the Sacramento Bee's Defensive Player of the Year his senior season and was a two-time All-Sierra Foothill League and All-Sac-Joaquin Section selection at defensive tackle.

Sherman was also named to the Bee's All-Decade team as a DT for the 2000s.

Collegiately, he played four years at Division-I Sacramento State and recently earned his teaching credential.

Sherman hails from a Del Oro program with a winning legacy, including eight Sac-Joaquin Section titles and a trip to a state bowl game in 2011.

One of those section titles came in Sherman's senior season in 2005. The Eagles were a combined 25-1 over his two years at the varsity level as a player.

"I want to help build this program and try and get it to that next level," Sherman said. "I've heard there's a lot of upside here, the whole school's on the rise as far as athletics are concerned. All sports are making their way up.

"I see us in the next couple of years doing some good things."

Sherman will hold his first players meeting at school on Friday and right along with him will be Athletic Director Phil McCaulley.

McCaulley, who also serves as RV's head freshman football coach, said Sherman's roots with a winning program like Del Oro coupled with his optimism and energy made him a great fit.

"I think with the two of us working together, the sky's the limit at River Valley," McCaulley said. "He's young and energetic, and I think that's something we can benefit from."

McCaulley said there was a "substantial" number of candidates and interest in the position, but was not permitted to specify any further.

Sherman's availability to his players as a teacher on campus was a big bonus for RV as well.

"That's a huge perk to have that," McCaulley said. "He'll be able to interact with the kids on a daily basis and be very accessible. For a sport like football, being in the weight room with the kids every day and seeing the players, it's a huge plus."

Del Oro coach Casey Taylor coached Sherman and later hired him as an assistant.

Taylor feels Sherman is an "outstanding" hire for River Valley and said Sherman really shined this season as his JV squad's defensive coordinator.

"I think he's a bright, up-and-coming coach who's really good with kids and brings a lot of knowledge to the game," Taylor said. "He'll bring intensity and passion, and he knows how a program is supposed to be run."