BY NATE KOTISSO | THE MONITOR
DONNA – Cesar Castillo fell in love with football at a young age and has grown old with it since. A former defensive back at Edcouch-Elsa, Castillo began his football coaching career at Weslaco’s Cuellar Middle School in 1997. He took a few assistant jobs before landing his first head coaching gig at Monte Alto in 2013. He now finds himself as Donna North’s defensive coordinator.
Cesar’s son, C.J., was glued to football by association.
“I pretty much had to,” C.J. said. “After every game he coached, I’d go to the sidelines and hang out there. When I was in the fifth or sixth grade, I started getting more into the game, and I’d go to football camps. Then he went to PSJA (High), and I got more familiar with formations and techniques offensively and defensively. Having my dad at the high school level taught me what he expects from me as a varsity player.”
Like his father, C.J. began his high school career as a freshman defensive back, suiting up for Monte Alto in 2015. As C.J. was starting to compete at the varsity level, Cesar’s time as Monte Alto’s head coach was coming to an end.
Before the 2016 season, Donna North coach Matthew Rokovich hired Cesar to be his defensive coordinator, and C.J. transferred along with him.
“It was awesome, because we would go home and talk about practice or talk about the opposing offense, teams we were facing, particular routes to look out for,” Cesar said. “This was every single day. It’s something I don’t take for granted. I really cherish those moments.”
“I already knew what he expected out of me, because I am his son,” C.J. said. “Last year, I had to fight for my spot on the varsity team. Some assume that I would be given the spot because I’m the son of a coach, but I had to work for it. It took me until Week 7 to earn that starting spot.”
Following the 2016 season, starting quarterback Alex Saenz graduated, leaving a void at the position. Rokovich decided he would audition two potential replacements for Saenz: rising senior Gus Alvarez and the junior Castillo.
As the preseason went along, Rokovich’s decision became clear. He was going to name C.J. as Donna North’s new starting quarterback.
“C.J. has got our offense down pat,” Rokovich said. “Being able to do our checks and grasp everything that we ask him to do. We feel very strongly about what he can do.”
Cesar went along with Rokovich’s decision, even if it was, initially, a little hard to swallow.
“At first I thought, ‘Damn it,’” Cesar said. “Because I’m the defensive coordinator, and I like defense. Now he’s on offense. That humbled me.”
C.J. is not the only one of Cesar’s sons who plays on the offensive side of the football. Cesar’s younger son, Cristian, is a quarterback on the freshman team at Donna North.
“When we go home from practice, they’re (C.J. and Cristian) talking about everything they’re doing offensively,” Cesar said. “When they have a good day, they say, ‘Hey, Dad. I beat you. I beat your defense today.’ And I say, ‘Yes, son, you did. Today.’ I don’t even argue with them. I just take it.”
Cesar and C.J. may work on different sides of the ball, but they still make time for each other.
“We’ll have some days where we will share tips and tricks we do to confuse each other,” C.J. said. “I still watch film with him all the time,” Cesar said. “I’m an open book. I try to help him out as much as I can. And I get with our offensive coordinator. Any way I can help him out, I’m going to do it.”
Cesar is pleased with the growth C.J. has shown as a quarterback.
“He knows he’s going to be the guy on offense right now,” Cesar said. “C.J. has been more active in the film session and talking about opponents and what they’re going to show in certain situations. He’s accepted the role of everything it takes to be the starting quarterback.”
C.J. is preparing to make his first start as a quarterback on Friday night against PSJA High. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bennie LaPrade Stadium in Donna.
“I’m fixing the little things now,” C.J. said. “Trying to memorize everything as much as I can.”
Regardless where C.J. or Cristian plays on the field, Cesar won’t forget these moments with the people he cares about most.
“These days are some of the days I couldn’t wait for as a young coach – to be at a high school and have a chance to coach my kids,” Cesar said. “It’s been a long time coming. A long time.”