El Diamante football coach Jesse Lira resigns after 0-4 start

El Diamante High School has appointed a new head football coach, replacing Jesse Lira after a disappointing 0-4 start to the season. Lira, who was in his inaugural season with the Miners, made the decision to resign on Monday, September 21. According to El Diamante athletic director Kim Watamura, the team has only managed to score 21 points in their first four games and has been plagued by consecutive shutout losses to Redwood and Kingsburg.

To complete the season, Brian Allen, who joined Lira's coaching staff as an associate head coach, will serve as the interim head coach. Allen is no stranger to Visalia football, having been the interim head coach at Golden West in 2021 and also coaching at Mt. Whitney. Prior to that, he was part of Nathan Chamberlain's Pioneers' staff when they claimed an outright East Yosemite League championship in 2023.

El Diamante has not won a game since the 2024 season, having lost 17 straight matches. The team will head to Mission Oak (0-4) on Friday, September 25, at Bob Mathias Stadium in Tulare. The Hawks, too, are on a losing streak, having lost 10 games in a row, but managed a season-high 43 points in a loss to undefeated Tulare Western (5-0).