BY ALLAN STEELE
HEMET Jeff Reitz said he was “blown away” after being told Thursday he would no longer be the Hemet High football coach. Reitz had been Hemet’s coach since 2011 and led the Bulldogs to the program’s first winning season in nine years this past season. Principal Emily Shaw called Reitz to give him the news on Thursday, saying the program needed to go in a different direction. “Everything you can dream about has happened here,” Reitz said of the team’s improvement on the field, academic progress and players moving on to four-year schools. Shaw did not return calls for comment. “I don’t understand what they mean when they say they want a change and go in a different direction,” Reitz said. “It’s frustrating and it hurts bad. I love these kids.” Hemet was 15-26 in four years under Reitz. The Bulldogs reached the playoffs in 2013 and were in consideration for an at-large berth this year after finishing 6-4. Reitz is the second Mountain Pass League coach to be let go this week following the dismissal of long-time San Jacinto coach Bill Powell. Hemet Tahquitz coach Dennis Gregovich resigned following the season, meaning the league has lost half of its head coaches. Reitz said he’ll remain at the school as a PE teacher and possibly return to coaching next season. “I still desire to coach,” he said. “I love coaching. I’d like to go coach some place, I love making a difference in a kid’s life.”
Source: www.pe.com