The roster is almost set.
San Benito High School has hired three new coaches for the
2004-04 school season to help fill spots in the lineup.
Incoming Athletic Director Tod Thatcher got his first taste of
his new job as he and Randy Logue helped pick the coaches.
The roster is almost set.
San Benito High School has hired three new coaches for the 2004-04 school season to help fill spots in the lineup.
Incoming Athletic Director Tod Thatcher got his first taste of his new job as he and Randy Logue helped pick the coaches.
Even before they finished the interviews, they knew they found the perfect matches.
Jennifer Beal was hired as the new girls volleyball coach, taking over for Chuck Schallhorn, and Juan Carlos Martinez is taking over as the new boys soccer coach, replacing Mike Warner, who wanted to spend more time with his business he is starting.
Lacy Sutton, a former Baler water polo player who played for varsity coach Derek Kisling, is coming back to coach the JV water polo team.
Beal, who is competing in a national women’s volleyball tournament this week in Georgia, plans to move to California in July from her Maryland home after her volleyball commitments are over.
“We struck the lotto when we found her,” Logue said. “We were almost in the same situation as in swimming where we were desperate to find someone. We were fortunate to find someone at just the right time like Jennifer. She is the real deal. With her experience, we could easily become a Mitty or St. Francis in volleyball.”
In addition to her club volleyball experience, Beal has led her her high school team to the state finals, winning a state title.
Martinez, who plays recreation soccer, has been a fixture of the San Benito High maintenance department. He was an assistant coach at Gilroy High.
“He is well known and respected in the soccer community,” Logue said. “With his experience, hopefully we can build the soccer program up to where athletes strive to be on the team and not just play recreationally.”
“They are both going to make our programs better,” said Thatcher of the two varsity coaches. “They’re both great additions to the staff.”
Logue said there are only three openings left to be filled for the upcoming year – a freshman girls basketball coach, a varsity tennis coach and an assistant wrestling coach.
“Hopefully it will be a little easier this year for Tod than it was when I took over,” Logue said. “I think I had 17 spots to fill when I took over. For the most part everyone is coming back, and we are looking forward to working with the younger coaches.”
