Ryan Teicheira has resigned as Lathrop’s football coach after a highly-successful five-year run.

He is pursuing an opportunity that can get him closer to his family.

“The decision to do this now wasn’t taken lightly,” he said. “I love the community and Lathrop High School, but it’s time now for me to give my son the same attention that I’ve given these players the last five years.”

Teicheira said he has applied for the head football coaching position at Sierra, his alma mater, after the job was recently vacated by Jeff Abrew.

Daniel II, the eldest of Teicheira’s three children, is currently a seventh grader who will eventually attend Sierra. Ryan is a 2001 graduate and a former assistant coach there. He was the offensive playcaller for the 2015 state championship team headed by Jeff Harbison. Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium was named after his younger brother, who died in a single-car accident in 2002.

“I’m making the move for the future of my family,” he said. “All of my kids plan on attending Sierra High School. With that said, I know there is a lot of competition for this job and a lot of great candidates that are applying, so nothing is guaranteed.”

Teicheira is still teaching math at Lathrop.

In his five years there, the Spartans went 29-6 in the Western Athletic Conference, 40-16 overall, recorded their first-ever postseason win in

While achieving all of this, Teicheira’s Spartans developed a reputation for their physical play and tenacity on both sides of scrimmage.

After pulling the strings for Sierra’s spread offense, he moved on to Oakdale and picked up the Wing-T from one of the premier programs to run it in the Northern California. He brought the ground-based attack to Lathrop, which matched the personality of his hard-nosed athletes.

“I’m proud of the program and where it has gotten to,” Teicheira said. “Yes, we wanted to bring home a (section championship) blue banner, but where we got to the last three years was a tremendous feat. The kids stayed hungry and understood we’re a good team, and in a lot of our football games, we controlled our own destiny.

“They played a style of football that has earned a lot of respect. They played with physicality, controlled the line of scrimmage and it allowed some guys to play free and do what they do.”

One of those “guys” is Pablo Peña, who starred at fullback and linebacker for Teicheira’s varsity team the past three years. He set program records in rushing, scoring and tackling and is a two-time MVP in the WAC.

“He’s definitely the best coach I’ve had,” Peña said of Teicheira. “He has made an impact not only in our football lives, but our personal lives, as well. He’s very caring and treated us like we’re his own kids. That’s what I appreciate the most about him.

“Of course, our team was devastated. We’re sad about him leaving the program, but we’re also very happy for him and thankful for everything he’s done for us.”

Although the team is set to graduate another talented senior class, Teicheira believes the team is set up to continue its trajectory after running the table in the WAC for a second straight season.

“Making the playoffs the last three years and getting to the semifinals for the last two gives kids from Lathrop a real shot at earning a blue banner in the years to come,” Teicheira said. “As a program, we went 21-0 in league last year, so the talent is there for whoever comes in. It is a win-now position.”

Teicheira is grateful for the support from school administration and staff, its students and the city as a whole. Greg Leland, his football coach at Sierra and now mentor, was principal at Lathrop when Teicheira was hired. Teicheira credits both he and Athletic Director Chuck Selna for helping him establish a new culture and philosophy with the football program.

“Coach Teicheira came in and took our program to a level where everyone wishes they could be at,” Selna said. “It wasn’t only on the field, but he has helped changed the culture of our program and our school. He has been a positive role model for the kids on the football team, kids in the classroom and the rest of the campus. We wish him the best, whatever the future holds.”