New football coach Kenion brings a wide range of experience

Clayton Valley Charter High School has named former Sacramento State assistant Nathan Kenion as its new football head coach, replacing Nick Tisa. 

Kenion has a long history in the game of football. He played at De La Salle High School as a running back and safety, playing with future all-pro NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew. 

When looking for a head coach, CVCHS athletic director Eric Bamberger said experience and a long history with the game is something the school looked for. 

“We wanted someone with experience and someone with experience running a program from top to bottom.” 

Kenion is described as disciplined and a stickler for the little things. He is known for preaching fundamentals, being high intensity and being technical.

Football player Bryson Myers, who will be a sophomore next season, says the early-morning workouts installed by Kenion are “very high intensity. Kenion works us hard over and over. Some things are based on reps and they don’t really stop. He tries to have us be perfect and disciplined.” 

Nathan Kenion, Clayton Valley's new football coach, also had coaching stops at Sacramento State and De La Salle High School before landing with the Ugly Eagles. (Photo courtesy CVCHS administration)

After playing for De La Salle, which won a national championship in his senior season of 2001, Kenion eventually coached at the school too. He served as De La Salle’s running backs coach and defensive coordinator from 2008-2022. After leaving De La Salle he became Diablo Valley College’s defensive coordinator and associate head coach. 

When Bamberger was asked about Kenion’s coaching role, he said: “I think he’s more defensive, but I think he has a great mind for the offense too.” 

Kenion has shown great versatility as a coach and player when it comes to the offensive and defensive side of the ball. 

As a player Kenion played both sides of the ball at De La Salle and earned a Division 1 scholarship to St. Mary’s College. He finished his college career at UNLV being a team captain. 

Most recently, Kenion served as Sacramento State's safeties coach and the team’s lead defensive analyst. 

Bamberger believes he is someone who can lead Clayton Valley football.  

“We wanted someone with a presence to lead our players in our school, someone that fit our way and do things we do around here, the culture.

“We want someone that would put focus not just on the team, but the program, the program image and the school.”

Kenion has already made a small impact on the program. He has had experience with Clayton Valley players coaching a 7 on 7 team called KT Prep while also doing training on the side with football players. 

“A lot of players know him,” Bamberger said. “He does have a lot of experience with our players through coaching.”

Kenion is widely known as a successful trainer and coach in the Bay Area. His 7 on 7 program KT Prep includes a list of NFL athletes he has personally trained. These players include Pro Bowl NFL players Brock Bowers, Austin Hooper and Jevon Holland. 

Tisa and Clayton Valley mutually parted ways in December, though he remains on campus this year as a teacher. He led the program for three seasons and guided the Ugly Eagles to the North Coast Section Division II title game this past season.