The fall football season at Pierce College ended before it even began, as the school announced on August 3, 2024 that the program would be shut down just weeks before classes resumed.
The announcement
During a meeting with College President Aracely Aguilar, Acting Vice President Carmen Dones and Athletic Director Deborah Hefter, players learned that the team would be disbanded, a decision that had been rumored since July 31 when an email was sent to Southern California Football Association athletic directors.
Head coach James Sims, who had grown the roster from eight players in 2022 to 32 this year, said he first heard the news from a question posed by a teammate, and later confronted Hefter, who claimed she was following administrative guidance.
Financial and academic fallout
Many of the 75 percent of scholarship athletes who were out‑of‑state had already signed one‑year leases and were facing full tuition bills, a burden highlighted by Robert Sarzo, father of incoming quarterback Julian Sarzo, who warned that the lack of a promise program left families exposed to unexpected costs.
Julian Sarzo described the emotional scene when the news was delivered, noting that players argued over lease agreements and transfer options while trying to preserve their academic trajectories and Division I scholarship prospects.
Looking ahead
With limited spots on junior college teams, some players are contemplating gap years, and the college’s statement citing roster size and safety concerns has done little to quell the uncertainty surrounding their futures.