Former Paloma coach Esposito leads Bears to CIF title

Members of the Temecula Valley High School football team celebrate the CIF-SS Division 7 championship. Photos courtesy of Kelli Esposito

Completing an improbable turnaround of a program that was 0-10 two years ago, former Paloma Valley High School football coach Bert Esposito led Temecula Valley High to the CIF-SS Division 7 championship Friday night.

Esposito, who served as head football coach at Paloma Valley from 2004-16, has rebuilt a Temecula Valley program that was going nowhere when he took over in 2018. Friday night's 28-21 victory over Cypress gave the Golden Bears their first CIF championship since 1991, when it was declared champion because of a forfeit by Morningside. It was also the second CIF championship for Esposito, who led Southern California Christian to a CIF title, also in 1991.

Esposito compiled an 87-59 record in 13 seasons at Paloma Valley, including 9-2 in his final season of 2016. He was relieved of his duties in April of 2017 following an investigation by Perris Union High School District officials, who have never disclosed the reason for his dismissal. Esposito remains a teacher in good standing and is still a PE teacher at Paloma.

After spending the 2017 season as an assistant coach at Chaparral High, Esposito took the head coaching position at Temecula Valley. He led the Golden Bears to a 6-6 record last season. Temecula Valley is 12-2 this season and will play in the upcoming CIF State regional playoffs. The Bears' opponent will be announced on Sunday.

Temecula Valley scored the winning touchdown with 41 seconds remaining Friday night on a 17-yard pass from Abe Flores to Anson Pulsipher. The loss was the first of the season for Cypress. Pulsipher also scored the Bears' first touchdown of the game on a fumble return.

Brody Hughes rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns for the Golden Bears. The Temecula Valley defense allowed just 108 yards rushing to Cypress running back Isaac Hurtado, the leading rusher in Orange County.

Head coach Bert Esposito (center) poses with his Temecula Valley staff, which includes three of his former assistants at Paloma Valley: Mike Citelo (second from left), offensive coordinator Juan Merida (third from left) and Dave Atencio (far right).

Bert Esposito poses with his wife Kelly and daughters Rachel and Melissa.