Matt Giordano steps down as Buchanan High football coach after six seasons. What’s next?
.jpg "Buchanan High football coach Matt Giordano talks during the opening day of fall camp on Monday, July 29, 2019.")
Matt Giordano has stepped down as the Buchanan High football coach. The move became official on Monday after he told Bears players of his plans.
“After prayerful consideration with my family, I have decided to step down as the Head Coach of the Buchanan High School Football program,” Giordano wrote to the Buchanan community. “I have informed our administration of my decision and my thoughts. Even though this decision comes with great sadness, I remain grateful for this opportunity to have been given the chance to coach here at Buchanan High School. Very few have the opportunity to come back and coach at their alma mater and to be given the chance to do that, I considered myself very blessed.”
Giordano informed Buchanan athletic director James Gambrell and principal Omar Hemaidan of his decision to step down on Friday.
“He was very gracious and obviously humbled,” Gambrell said. “When a guy comes to you like that, the only thing you can do is thank him. You’re surprised at the time, but when you look at Matt’s eyes and you see to his heart and his family and his kids, someone who has done a great job at your program, all you can do is be grateful. It was nothing but disappointment that we were losing him as the leader of our football program, but grateful for everything that he’s done.”
Giordano became the head coach at Buchanan in 2016 and led the Bears to two Tri-River Athletic Conference championships — going undefeated in the TRAC this spring and fall.
Buchanan was runner-up in the Central Section championships in 2017 and 2019 under Giordano. In six seasons, he had a 52-16 record and led the Bears to four 10-win seasons, section historian Bob Barnett said.
Giordano played for Buchanan and helped the Bears to a section title in 2000. He played for Fresno City College for two seasons.
He earned a scholarship to play for Cal for two seasons under current Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford before getting drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft and later won a Super Bowl ring with the Colts.
Giordano retired after the 2013 NFL season.
He joined the Buchanan High staff as a defensive coordinator in 2015 before he was named the head coach, replacing Mike Jacot.
Could Giordano join Tedford at Fresno State? It is not known where Giordano is headed next.
“Although this chapter of coaching at Buchanan High School is coming to an end, my family and I look forward to seeing what God has in store for the next chapter,” he wrote.
