Lessard Named New Head Coach
Apr 03, 2024 11:59AM ● By Steven Bryla
YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - The Yuba City Honkers’ football program has a new man in charge, and as Yuba City Athletic Director Maury Castaneda told the Dispatch, “Lessard bleeds brown and gold.”
Jonah Lessard returns to the Honkers program where he spent five of the last six seasons on all levels of the Yuba City program except last year as he was the quarterbacks/running backs coach at Yuba College. Prior to the stint at Yuba College, Lessard was the offensive coordinator for the varsity program in the 21-22 season.
Lessard expressed to the Dispatch that Yuba City is now home for his family as they planted their roots into the community and love what it stands for.
“Yuba City High School is exactly where I wanted to be,” Lessard said. He added that he is passionate about the kids and the rich tradition/culture the school has.
Lessard told the Dispatch that coaching at the next level was exactly what he needed to get the experience, and he learned a lot to help bring into his first season as a head coach of the Honker program.
He added that he was grateful for the opportunity that Yuba College Head Coach Mike Pomfret gave him, and mentorship that he and the other coaches on the 49ers staff gave him in his time that helped him in the beginning of becoming a new head coach.
“I gained a lot of knowledge on the offensive side of the ball by seeing what a college offense is like and it was huge,” Lessard said.
Castaneda said that he is excited for Lessard to take over the program and to see what he can do as Yuba City has gone 4-6 in the past two regular seasons, but have qualified for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section football playoffs.
Lessard told the Dispatch that he is fired up about the upcoming season including a new coaching staff, getting into the recently renovated weight room and also joining a new league.
Due to realignment, Yuba City is going from the Capital Valley Conference to the Foothill Valley League beginning this fall for the next four years at a minimum. The Honkers will see familiar faces as River Valley and Roseville will join them in the FVL.
“We are going to be the hardest working team and we are going to bring a lot of excitement every week,” Lessard said.
Yuba City opens their 2024 season on the road at Marysville on Friday, August 23, which is the first matchup between the schools since the 2009 season.
Lessard told the Dispatch that he respects the local programs in the area, but noted that the Honkers are the biggest brand of football within a 30-mile radius.
“It will be an opportunity for us to showcase the highest level of football within the area,” Lessard said.
