News broke officially on Thursday that former Pitman and Turlock High football head coach Tom Tyler has resigned following his sixth season with the Pride of Pitman.
Tyler coached the Pride from 2013-2018 and saw major success with the program.
“Combination of a lot of small things,” said Tyler about his decision to step down. “My son is done now and playing in college and I just felt like I’ve been doing this a long time and felt like one of the younger guys’ times to take over. I would like to spend a little more time with wife and family and signing up to do some things, we don’t have much time off, it’s really a year-round thing and this last month I didn’t feel the same going into the offseason. The last couple years the coaching part is my favorite, but it is different being the head coach.”
Tyler’s best seasons ever as a head coach were 2018 and 2016, when the Pride went 10-2 in both earning playoff berths and winning their first round games in both years in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
“I am real proud of what we put out on the field and how hard the coaches and everyone worked. But for me, my whole career it is all about the people and I think of all the kids I coached all these years, I am really happy with that,” said Tyler.
He closed out his career at Pitman with an overall record of 45-21.
Tyler trails former football coach Brandon Harris by eight wins for all-time victories as the Pride head coach.
“I think it is the next chapter in my life. When I came to Pitman I didn’t expect to be head coach, but I was talked into it when Brandon left,” said Tyler. “it was very easy to be head coach with so many great coaches there, I have Wolfley, Thad Moren, the Curtiss’ and everyone, it was fun I had a good time.”
“Tom is a great guy and he really helped our program,” said Pitman Athletic Director Dave Walls.
He will finish second all-time for Turlock school victories behind Joe Debely (117).
Tyler also coached Turlock High from 1996-2005. During that time Tyler went 67-42.
His all-time record as head coach of Turlock and Pitman High combined is 112-63.
“It is a special deal, I got to see both sides of that with Turlock and Pitman High,” said Tyler. “I have a very unique perspective, that has been a different deal and I don’t think you will see many in this position. It was fun. It was different chapters in my career and, funny, I always thought I would look at the wins and losses, but really lately I’ve been thinking about all the people I worked with and very fortunate to coach both my sons and have my son coach with me last couple years. I can’t ask for more than that … it has been a fun ride.
“I don’t know if I will completely quit, but I can give some advice… never say never, I don’t know when or if I will ever coach again, but I will see what it’s like not doing it for a couple months,” Tyler added.
