Robin Mcalpine
I am so sad to hear of Coach's passing. Prayers for the family.
He was one of my favorite teachers. I saw him a few times after I graduated and he was always the same sweet man I remembered. God bless!
Robin, CHS 1977
Birth date: Sep 25, 1943 Death date: Feb 25, 2014
Charles “Chuck” Pettersen, 70, dedicated husband, loving father, and devoted grandfather died on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 in Hemet, CA. Coach P, as he was best known, began his coaching career as a defensive coordinator at Paci Read Obituary
I am so sad to hear of Coach's passing. Prayers for the family.
He was one of my favorite teachers. I saw him a few times after I graduated and he was always the same sweet man I remembered. God bless!
Robin, CHS 1977
I will always remember the piercing stare he had. It made me afraid and feel safe at the same time. Mentor, disciplinarian, father, teacher and coach he was so much to so many. We were all blessed to have him in our lives and I know I will miss him. One more I right 34 blast for you coach!
In August of 1986 I had the hardest week of my young life...this week was called, "Hell Week". I didn't know at the time, but I would endure Hell Week three more times over the next three years of high school. There was a man that saw something in me and he made sure of it. He knew that "Excellence Runs Deep"; that "Bigger was Better"; that "Better was Best"; and that I, too, would "BE HOT". He made me WANT to practice on Thanksgiving Day. (What kid doesn't want Pumpkin Pie? Thank you, Mrs. P.) Every Monday morning we would watch a video of our last game. More importantly, we would watch a video of the other team. Knowing it was a big game he would hand us a "Win" book. In this book we were to write our thoughts and feelings about the game and everything that was going through our minds that week. I had never been a guy to show much emotion and now this man wants me to write it down on paper? Well, I did it because he asked me to. He would give us the challenge to play our best and when Tuesday came he'd show up with a smile on his face and say, "You better drop you co**s and grab your socks boys--going to be a fun practice today!" I was given the great honor of having Coach P coach me for 3 years of my high school career. Little did I realize, the hard work, dedication and team concepts he was instilling in me was not only for football, but for life.
He was not just a coach he was a role model, leader, father-figure and all around amazing man As he has asked me before to write in my " Win" book I have done so here one last time. Thank you, Coach P. You will be missed. WIN!!
Anthony Robles, Class of 1991
Sandy and family, I am so sorry for your loss and my prayers are with you.
Vera
Thank you Sandy for sharing your love with the rest of us; Coach P. was one hell of a guy. He surrounded himself with the best of the best, and this made for a hard team to beat. He loved what he did. As a parent I want to say thank you God for this man. I continued for several years after my kids graduated to help out the team at Pacific and can say my husband and I are honored to say Chuck Pettersen is our friend. He will always hold a special place in our hearts; may his memory forever be internal.

Coach Petterson was one of the first people that ever truly believed in me. He held me to high standard seven when I did not believe in myself. Coach, you played an important role in my development into the man that I am
Thank you for not giving up on me!
Aaron burgess
Class of 1978
What a great man, Chuck Pettersen!! I was hired by Chuck to coach the baseball team at Pacific High School in 1994. It was an honor for me to work for Chuck. As a coach I always knew that Chuck was on my side, would do what he could to shield me when I needed to be shielded and support me when I needed to be supported. I have coached at a lot of places and worked for a lot of a Athletic Directors and Chuck was the best. I tell coaches that I work with today about this legendary guy that I worked with at Pacific High School, Chuck Pettersen.
I kind of looked upon Chuck as a father figure. He would bark at me when I screwed up but it would be forgotten the next time we talked, he didn't play games and he didn't play "gotcha."
I loved him for that. When we won the game that clinched the league championship I was in his office the next day and he jumped out of his chair, shook my hand with his meaty fingers, and laughed that booming laugh, and shouted, "LEAGUE CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!" I will never forget how he was just as happy as I was and his display was genuine (by the way, we won our league last spring at my current school and am still waiting for ANYTHING from the AD!!!)
Good bye, Chuck. You will be missed by your former team but here's betting your new team is already better because of you.
Gary Libby
I don't know where to start. Chuck has been and will always be the BEST football coach. I just wish my grandson could have meet CHUCK. he graduates this year. Sandy and Amy I LOVE you both. Sandy who will I make signs for now LOL. Football has changed so much since our sign days. Oh well I love you and I know Chuck is now the head coach. LOVE to all Mary Cohen, Keri Cohen. Teri Minium (Teri Burguan)
I first met Coach P at Cajon in 1989. He was kind to hire me as a walk-on coach at Pacific to assist Joel Escobar with the frosh team in 1990 (the year PHS reopened). I credit coach with getting me a teaching position at PHS the next year. What I miss most is his big laugh. You could hear it all over the school hallways! Also, the personal interest he showed in players by picking them up and taking them home. He was very organized and a great motivator of people. His slogan "Dynasty is our Destiny" is still on the front of our basketball scoring table. Our prayers are with Sandy and the family at this time of loss.
Mike McCuistion
Chuck Pettersen was a friend and collegue for nearly 40 years. As coaches, we had an intense, professional rivalry for many years. During the lat years of our professional association, we were Athletic Directors and worke very closely in league activities. I have always had the utmost respect and admiration for Coach P and appreciate what he did for so many kids for so many years. There are not many left anymore who have given so much.He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him. Sincere condolences to the family. Rest in Peace my friend. You deserve it.
Jim Taylor
Yucaipa