TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

John Roberts' head coaching tenure at Garces was something of a firework: It burned bright but faded fast.

The school announced Roberts' retirement Thursday, bringing to an end his two-year stint as the Rams' head man that brought a 21-4 record, two Southeast Yosemite League championships and an appearance in last fall's Division II Central Section title game.

"I've been thinking about it for a while, and I finally made the decision that I need to finally get into retirement," said Roberts, 57, who served as Kern County's chief probation officer from 2004-2009.

"It's a tough decision but something I felt I needed to do. The head coaching position was a lot of hustle and bustle, and I have a tendency to get a little anxious."

Roberts won a section championship as Garces' quarterback in 1971, and later served as an assistant coach at the school from 1979 until 2002. He won six more section titles during that span.

"He's always been the ultimate Garces man," said Jim Maples, who served as Roberts' defensive coordinator the past two seasons. "He got me involved in coaching at Garces. He's one of those guys who was what Garces was all about."

Garces said in a release that it would begin an "immediate search" for a replacement. Its list might well begin with Maples, who coached East High to the 2004 D-II section championship before resigning that post after the 2007 season.

Maples said he plans to apply for the Garces job.

"I haven't heard anything from anybody regarding names, but I will apply for it," Maples said. "I love the program, I love the kids. Whether I get it is in somebody else's hands."

Whoever takes the position will inherit a highly successful program: The Rams have gone 9-1 in the regular season each of the past two seasons, losing only their Holy Bowl rivalry with Fresno-San Joaquin Memorial.

"We had a great group of kids, and Garces has a great future with or without me," Roberts said. "Part of our philosophy was treating the kids respectfully and taking care of them. It paid off for us, and you can tell by our record.

"I'm proud of what I did over the last couple of years, and I feel like the program is going full speed ahead. I think we have the potential to have another really good coach."

Roberts, who declined Garces' offer to come back for one more season, didn't rule out the possibility that he'd return to high school football as an assistant or an underclass coach. But his short-lived -- but highly successful -- head coaching days appear to be at end.

"My career has been wonderful," he said. "I had the opportunity to be involved in six Valley championships, plus one as a player. I'm proud of all the things that were accomplished. No regrets."