Jim Kostan, who was Vintage High School's head football coach from 1994 to 1999, died Saturday at the age of 62 in Georgetown, Texas, according to Kent Frye, a former assistant coach at Vintage and Napa High Schools.
Frye said Costan, who also served as head track and field and men's golf coach at Vintage, had early-onset Parkinson's disease.
According to a County Football Insider column by Marty James published in the Napa Valley Register on June 28, 2021, Costan retired last week after 28 years with the Napa Valley Unified School District and joined the Sun City, Texas, school district. He was reportedly moving to the Del Webb community. To be close to his father Don and his brother John.
“It's going to get better. It's a golf cart community. We've already ordered golf carts,” Kostan said. “It's been 30 years since I've lived in the same town as my family, so I'm looking forward to that part as well. My brother likes to play golf and I do what I like too. There's a lot to do there. It's relaxing. I look forward to having fun.”
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Costan also said he is looking forward to watching the Georgetown Eagles play high school football in the 11,418-seat stadium.
“I want to see what Texas football is like and see the Friday night lights,” he said.
Costan, the fourth head coach in Vintage High football history, compiled a 30-29 record and led the Crushers to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 playoffs in 1994.
He hinted at trying to coach football in Texas, but said the season is too close to coach in 2021.
“I think I'll take a year off because I arrived too late,” he said. “Then we'll see what happens in the offseason. I mean, I might be nostalgic enough to want to go back.”
A 1980 graduate of Kennedy High School in Sacramento, he played offensive tackle and linebacker for the Cougars. He graduated from Sacramento State University in 1985 with a degree in physical education and received his state teaching certification at National University.
Before coming to Napa and joining Vintage's staff in 1993, Costan coached at Kennedy in 1983 and 1984. He was an assistant at American River College in Sacramento from 1985 to 1990, where he coached the tight ends, defensive line, offensive line, and team coordinator where he served as a special coach.
He also served as the head coach of the Kristianstad C4 Lions, a Swedish American youth football organization, from 1989 to 1991.
“I've been playing and coaching football since I was probably 10 or 11 years old,” he said in 2021. “Football took me everywhere. It took me to Vintage High School. It kept me at Vintage High School. It got me into the physical education department. If it wasn't for football, I wouldn't have gone to American River College. So I'm very grateful for football because it definitely guided me in my professional life.”
At Vintage, he served as an assistant football coach under former head coaches Dave Shipp, Les Franco and Billy Smith. He was also on Rich Cotruvo's staff and Brandon LaRocco's staff at Justin Siena and coached as an assistant on both the varsity and junior varsity teams.
“I've been involved in teaching and coaching since the mid-'80s. It was time for me to take a little break,” he said in 2021. I don’t know if coaching comes in my blood. I'm enjoying it. ”
Kostan taught physical education, health and sports medicine at Vintage.
“We have great teachers here and we have a great staff at Vintage High School,” he said in 2021. “The kids really had fun. It was a fun ride. That's why I never left.
“The fun part is watching them implement and execute what you taught them. Helping kids and watching them grow are some of the great things you can do. As a coach, you can help them It's so fun to see them grow from their freshman year to their senior year and how hard they work. I think that's what keeps you in coaching.”
When Costan transferred to Texas, the Crushers had gone 6-0 in each of their first three seasons in the Vine Valley Athletic League. In 2018 and 2019, they also won three playoff games for the first time since 1986.
Costan was also proud of coaching the Crushers in the Monticello Empire League. His team won his last three games, going 3-for-3 in a big game against crosstown rival Napa High School.
“It felt special to be a part of such a highly regarded program,” he said in 2021. this town.
“It was really hard to say goodbye because I've known a lot of my friends for a long time. Retirement and retirement, it was tough. I might never see some of these people again. It's been almost 30 years. Once you live in that community, it’s hard to leave.”
