After more than a decade with the La Jolla Country Day School football program, Carmy Cesaire knows quite a bit about the team and its culture. Now, as the newly appointed head coach, he plans to improve on it.
Cesaire is taking over for longtime coach Tyler Hales, who was promoted to assistant director of athletics and physical education.
“Few people have invested more in our students and athletic programs than Tyler Hales and Carmy Cesaire,” said new Country Day Athletic Director Robert Grasso. “They are men of character, integrity and deep commitment to young people. I am confident that La Jolla Country Day will continue to thrive with both of them serving in these important leadership roles.”
Cesaire played college football for Norwich University in Vermont as a freshman, then transferred to Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts. In that time, he was a two-year captain, a team MVP and an all-conference wide receiver for the Fitchburg Falcons. After graduation, he coached at Fitchburg for five seasons before coming to San Diego.
When he arrived at La Jolla Country Day in 2011, Cesaire was a linebackers and running backs coach under then-Athletic Director Jeff Hutzler. He left for a year to coach at Scripps Ranch High School but returned in 2013 and has been with the Torreys since. In that time, he moved up to offensive coordinator and then assistant head coach.
La Jolla Country Day’s James Picinich intercepts a pass in the end zone in a game against Army-Navy Academy last season. (Hayne Palmour IV)
Now as head coach, he says his goal is to create a better experience for the players, parents, school community and alumni — both on and off the field.
“I want to create a premier football experience at La Jolla Country Day for the kids who play football here,” said Cesaire, the father of Country Day star wide receiver Quentin Cesaire, who was part of the graduating class of 2026. “I want them to love being a part of Torrey football. We want parents and alumni to stay invested and build up that Torrey pride. I want to connect everyone to help make the player experience awesome.
“That means building a program rooted in strong relationships, character, competitive excellence and a lifelong connection to Torrey football. The values of perseverance, accountability, integrity and enthusiasm will continue to be the foundation of our program and the roots of Torrey pride.”
That starts with strengthening relationships with the families of players, along with alumni and the broader school community, Cesaire said.
“In my experience here, I have found that connection is one of the most important things,” he said. “When we have been really good, we had total buy-in from parents and boosters and the school and families. The players play hard for each other, and when the community shows up for them, they show up for the community.”
If the team is going to win, every player needs to feel valued, he added.
“I want this program to be player-led, and I think we have really good seniors that are going to set our new direction, and they are excited about it,” he said. “They have a lot of great energy and they have been working hard. It’s everything I could hope for in terms of stepping into this role. [The players] want more out of their program, and I have the time to give them that. I think that is super important.”
The Torreys are coming off a 6-7 season that included a trip to the CIF San Diego Section Division IV semifinals as the 10th seed before losing 42-35 to Valley Center.
“We have really good coaches with good experience, and I think our on-the-field stuff has kept us ahead and helped us win more games than we probably should have,” Cesaire said. “And we have a really good system of having the older players help guide the younger players.”
But to help move the program forward, practice will be modified to focus on different skills, he said.
“It’s going to be a little faster and more direct and focused on what we want to be,” Cesaire said. “We have to be excited to be out there and bring that enthusiasm every day. It’s a short two hours [of practice], but we have to keep going to get us where we want to be.”
That also means building on the foundation set by his predecessor, Hales, who could not immediately be reached for comment.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Coach Hales for everything he has done to build this program,” Cesaire said. “My goal is to honor that foundation while continuing to strengthen the relationships and experiences that make Torrey football special.
“It’s a lot different to be in the second chair than the first chair, but Coach Hales is going to be our assistant athletic director, so I have the best resources and support you could find out there. … It makes taking this job a lot easier.
“I’m just blessed and super humbled and super appreciative of this opportunity, so I’m going to do the best I can.” ♦