Central Valley Christian hires Don Arax as next football coach

Don Arax has been hired as the next head football coach of Central Valley Christian Schools. 

The Visalia private Christian school announced the hiring on Thursday. 

The big picture: Arax will head to Visalia after 24 years at Bullard High School in Fresno. 

• He led Bullard High School to a 178-128-1 record and won seven league titles and two section titles. 
• Central Valley Christian said in a press release that Arax’s strong Christian character, his ability to attract local coaches and proven track record of cultivating a thriving culture make him an excellent fit to the school. 

The backstory: Last September Arax was removed as head coach of Bullard High School. 

• Fresno Unified School District said at the time that it could not provide details on personnel matters and declined to say why Arax was removed. 
• Arax had filed a defamation lawsuit in 2022 against Fresno Unified Trustee Keshia Thomas after she accused Arax of making racial slurs in front of her son during a football practice. 

What they’re saying: Arax said in a statement that he feels as though he and his family have been given a rare gift to join Central Valley Christian. 

• “Foundational components such as discipline, structure, accountability, and sacrifice are essential components at CVC. That’s hard to find these days,” Arax said. “I feel perfectly in sync with the values and ideals of the school. Those guiding principles will form the core of our program. From a football standpoint, there is certainly much to live up to.” 
• Arax praised former coach Mason Hughes, who had led Central Valley Christian from 2009. 
• “It’s first and foremost about the kids,” Arax said. “You can find no better kids than here at CVC. Secondly, it’s about the community. We have committed parents with strong Christian values. They will be partners in my journey. Finally, it’s about the tremendous platform that is afforded to coaches to make a real impact in the lives of the players and the student body. I’m more than humbled by the opportunity to lead this program over the next several years.”