Bret McGatlin has stepped down as head coach of Valor Christian football after three seasons, marking a significant change for the team.
Highlands Ranch: So, there’s been a shake-up at Valor Christian football. Bret McGatlin has decided to resign as head coach after three seasons. He confirmed this news to The Post on Thursday night. The next coach will be the Eagles’ fifth in just nine years.
Before McGatlin, the team had Donnie Yantis for two years, who left for Prestonwood Christian Academy in Texas. Ed McCaffrey also coached for two years before moving on to the University of Northern Colorado. Rod Sherman had a five-year run before he left after the 2017 season.
Valor Christian has a strong football history, with eight state titles, five of which were at the Class 5A level. However, they haven’t won a title since McCaffrey’s first season in 2018. They faced Cherry Creek in three championship games from 2020 to 2022, losing each time, including a close 24-17 game that ended McGatlin’s first year.
During his time, McGatlin had a record of 28-10. The Eagles made it to the championship game in 2022 and reached the semifinals in 2024, but they struggled a bit in 2023, finishing with a 6-5 record. That was the lowest win total since their first season in 2008.
After the 2023 season, the Eagles brought in Bob Stitt as the new offensive coordinator. Stitt took over play-calling from McGatlin and has a solid coaching background, having been the head coach at Colorado School of Mines and the University of Montana, among other places.
Before joining Valor Christian, McGatlin spent 16 years at Chatfield, where he capped off his time by winning the Class 4A title in 2021. He’s a Green Mountain grad and played wide receiver at Adams State. He started his coaching career as an assistant at Columbine.
This story will be updated as more information comes in.
