Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — The Del Norte Warriors will be hoping to hit the ground running this coming season, with a long road trip to kick off the new campaign.

With Nick White back as head coach of the perennial Big 4 contenders, the Warriors will open at Oakland High School on Friday, Aug. 28.

Both the varsity and JV teams will travel to the Bay Area.

The big story for Del Norte heading into the new season is the return of White, who stepped away from the team in 2022 for personal reasons after a very successful run in charge.

During his four years in charge of the Warriors, White oversaw the most successful run in program history.

He led Del Norte to three Big 4 championships in his three full seasons — there was no official league during the COVID-shortened spring season of 2021 — while posting an outstanding overall record of 34-8 (12-0 in the Big 4).

White takes over as head coach from Darren LaFazio, who also enjoyed a successful run with the team over the past three seasons, winning two conference crowns.

LaFazio will still be a part of the staff as defensive line coach.

White’s first summer back with the team has gone well and the players have responded well to his appointment.

The Warriors have been putting in the work in the weight room and practicing for much of the summer.

“We had a really good offseason in the weight room, which is the basis for our program,” White said. “The kids have been doing really well progressing.”

White will have between 25 and 30 on his varsity roster when the season begins.

And as always the Warriors will be expected to be among the contenders for this year’s Big 4 title.

“I think the biggest thing for is is competing and learning from our mistakes,” White said. “And that’s what I’m looking for.

“We’ve been competing at practice and the kids are getting better and taking it step by step.”