After a disappointing season for the Dougherty Valley football program, the team is entering spring determined to regroup and begin their preparation for the fall season. The Wildcats are entering their first offseason under returning head coach, Gwangee Pittman, who is working to set a culture surrounded by work and dedication as the program looks to bounce back next season.
“We’re going to change the brand of football we play… we haven’t won a league game in damn near a decade and we plan on changing that, most definitely,” Pittman said.
The Wildcats finished their 2025-2026 football season going 2-6, and going another season without a league win. The program had to shut down their season early due to a shortage of healthy players and was forced to forfeit their final two East Bay Athletic League games of the season, along with its rivalry matchup against Dublin High School. After major coaching changes in the program, the team started their preparation late and were not able to develop the players’ bodies for the season. The injury situation at Dougherty Valley got so bad that the program decided to shut down their junior varsity and freshman team. Pittman was determined to not let the team go through that again, starting offseason training a lot earlier this year.
“It’s about the work, as long as everyone knows it’s going to take work to get there and the dedication, we know we need to put in the work to get the success,” Coach Pittman said.
As the offseason ramps up, the Wildcats know that success can’t happen only because of the coaching staff. The players will have to take ownership of the new standard. The Wildcats recognize that their rebuild depends on the commitment and determination to take a major step forward next season.
“More people need to have the urge and the fight, [to]want to play football for Dougherty,” senior William Wallehauser said. “I just want to see more people coming out and putting in the work.”
Wallehauser’s frustration reflects more than just a stronger attendance from the student body at the games, but rather highlighting a lack of pride and identity for the football team within DVHS. Coaches and returning players highlighted the goal of changing the identity of Dougherty Valley football and building confidence throughout their program.
“I know that we can be a lot better next year, and I know we are going to be a lot better next year if we just keep improving the way we are…I’m confident in our team,” junior wide receiver Vivan Gadewar explained.
The Wildcats are seeing a major culture change in the program as confidence is starting to spread throughout the program. The team understands that turning this program around won’t happen overnight, but the growing belief of change in the locker room signals that the program is ready to move in the right direction.
“If people keep buying into the way we do things, this program is going to be right there with the rest of the programs in San Ramon pretty soon, ” Pittman said.
