Jeremy Hathcock pivots from West Valley to East Valley for Mesa football job

Posted by author January 23, 2025 Football

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Jeremy Hathcock, one year after turning around Buckeye Verrado’s football program, is pivoting back to the East Valley where he’ll lead the Mesa Jackrabbits.

Athletic Director David Klecka announced the hiring, pending approval from the Mesa Public Schools’ governing board, on social media Thursday.

“He checks all the boxes that we are looking for,” Klecka said in a text to The Arizona Republic. “He will fit right in our traditions of hard-nosed, tough football coaches that have the highest of expectations.”

Hathcock moved back to the Valley last spring from the White Mountains, where he was athletic director and head football coach of his alma mater Lakeside Blue Ridge, to take on the Verrado job.

Hathcock was considered for Coach of the Year by The Arizona Republic after what he did in his only season at Verrado.

The Vipers went 10-3, beating eventual 5A champion Goodyear Desert Edge in the final regular-season game, before losing to Desert Edge 24-14 in the state semifinals. The previous year, Verrado went 3-7.

Hathcock previously was head coach at Mesa Desert Ridge, leading the Jaguars from 2006-20. He took them to the 6A state final in 2010 and 2015.

He said he’s been renting his home in the East Valley, while finding a new home in Buckeye.

“Honestly, I never wanted to leave,” Hathcock said about Verrado.

Hathcock said he wanted to be closer to his family in the East Valley. He said there could be a possibility that his son, Alec, could move back from Texas and help him at Mesa.

Hathcock said he is looking forward to working with the Mesa players.

“With their tradition, I think you can win there and I don’t think it’s going to take a lot of time,” he said. “There are neighborhood kids, great culture, great diversity. They care about sports. They have tradition like nobody has.”

Many coaches have come through Mesa, trying to restore it to an elite level since Jim Rattay led the Jackrabbits to big-school state titles in 1990 and ’92.

Mesa last reached the state championship game in 2009, under now Arizona Christian University assistant coach Kelley Moore. Mesa has won four AIA state titles in its history, counting 1960 and 1963.

Hathcock replaces Chad DeGrenier, who led the Jackrabbits to a 4-6 record last season. Two seasons ago, Mesa got into the playoffs at 6-4, before losing to Phoenix Brophy Prep 35-7 in the first round of the 6A playoffs.

Hathcock also was intrigued by Mesa being in 6A. He has always wanted to coach at the highest level in Arizona. He did that at Desert Ridge. Verrado competes in 5A.

“Mesa should be a team that nobody wants to play,” Hathcock said.

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert