How Ceres’ Clinton and Derrick Goblirsch prepare for a rivalry from opposing sidelines
Separated by more than 1,700 miles, brothers Clinton and Derrick Goblirsch found a way to stay close.
After years of facing off in the front yard of their Ceres home or inside playing video games in what both reassure was “friendly competition,” their relationship took on a new form after Clinton went away to college in Missouri.
They strengthened their bond by spending nights on the phone breaking down Derrick’s quarterback film when he was at Ceres High in the early 2000s.
“We talked on the phone and I’d write down some of the stuff that went on,” Derrick said. “That was an important experience for me, learning from him.”
The film sessions that continued as they got into their high school coaching careers took a break this week.
Clinton is head coach at Ceres High and Derrick is head coach at crosstown rival Central Valley High. The two unbeaten teams play each other on Friday night.
“Not the week when we’re playing each other,” Clinton said. “But we do talk about coaching and different things that we see.”
That’s no surprise for the two who seemed destined to become coaches.
Both were star quarterbacks at Ceres High – Clinton a 2002 graduate and Derrick, a 2005 graduate who was named to The Bee’s All-District second team.
When Derrick graduated from Stanislaus State, he joined Clinton’s coaching staff at Ceres for a year in 2010 before getting teaching and coaching jobs of his own at Central Valley High School.
“That was my first coaching job and I was hooked.” Derrick said.
First meeting last spring
Last season was the first time they faced off as head coaches after Clinton, 37, was promoted from offensive coordinator in 2020 and Derrick, 34, was awarded the head job at Central Valley after Scott Edwards retired after the 2019 season.
Central Valley beat Ceres 36-14 on its way to an undefeated spring.
This season, Ceres is 1-0 after a Week 1 win over West. Its Week 2 game against Amador was canceled due to poor air quality. Meanwhile, Central Valley is 2-0 after victories over Pitman and Pacheco.
“I enjoy coaching against anybody but it’s more fun to do it against him,” Derrick said. “We talk about each other’s teams all year long ... we get to see where we match up and that’s always a lot of fun.
“I’ve learned a lot from him. He’s definitely played a huge role in where I am as a coach and some of my qualities as a coach come from him. To compete against him is like getting to compete against your mentor.”
The Goblirsch parents try not to let their alliances sway either way.
“They try to keep in neutral and root for us both,” Derrick said. “They get involved and they like to talk about it but they don’t root for one or the other they just hope that we both do well.”
Mother worked at Ceres High
The Ceres products grew up around educators. Their mother Kimli Goblrisch, who is now retired, has an investment in one side of the rivalry after working at Ceres High School.
“I don’t know if I can ever get her to wear one of our team’s shirts,” Derrick said laughing. “But she’s much more neutral now.”
The sibling rivalry is fun, but Derrick and Clinton don’t lose sight of their calling, helping student-athletes find success.
Both coach baseball for their respective schools as well as teach – Clinton in Government Economics and U.S. History and Derrick in math – and they realize the players are the most important part of the rivalry.
“We really just try to push it to our kids,” Derrick said. “They know all the kids over there and their kids know us. So, I mean, it’s kind of a special rivalry overall.
“They always say, ‘Oh that’s your brother over there, coach’ and I tell them, ‘It’s not about that, it’s about you guys getting the job done on the field.’”
Friday’s game is at Ceres High but will be a Central Valley home game.
“It’s not a battle between us,” Clinton said on the idea of a brother vs. brother matchup. “It’s a Ceres and Central Valley game and you want to play well every time that you step on the field.”
This story was originally published September 3, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
