By RICHARD PORTER
Plainview interim athletic director and defensive coordinator Marcos Hinojos did two things to set himself apart from other candidates who interviewed for the PHS athletic director and head football coach position.
Hinojos, 40, had a plan for change and recognized that there are sports at Plainview High School other than varsity football.
The school board voted 6-0 to name him to the position during a special meeting Monday night.
Hinojos, who has been at PHS since 2001 and has served as defensive coordinator during that time, will begin his new contract on July 1, at a salary of $75,000.
According to PISD Superintendent Dr. Ron Miller, the coach will continue to draw the $2,000 stipend he is getting for serving as interim AD through the end of June and will continue his teaching duties through the end of the school year. He teaches TAKS math.
In introducing Hinojos, Miller said that he was the only one of the 33 applicants -- of which seven were interviewed -- who mentioned anything other than football.
"He was the only one who mentioned the Lady Bulldogs," Miller said.
"Going through that process, Coach Hinojos came out on top," Miller added. "Nobody else could keep up."
The other area where the coach distinguished himself was in presenting a plan for change.
He titled his interview packet "A New Day."
For board member Lonnie DiSalvo, who was part of the committee set up to work through the interview process, those were the key factors.
Other committee members were Miller, board member Brandon Brownlee, PHS Principal Lisa Kersh and Assistant Principal Milton Finley, PHS Head Girls Basketball Coach Danny Wrenn, Estacado Junior High Principal Ritchie Thornton and PISD Director of Operations Rick Garcia.
DiSalvo talked about the combination of change and continuity Hinojos will bring to the job.
He pointed out that as a current member of the Bulldog coaching staff, Hinojos is a familiar figure to the players, but also has firsthand knowledge of changes that need to be made.
More importantly, Di-Salvo said, he has a cost-effective way for beginning to implement those changes.
At the same time, the board member continued, Hinojos has a vested interest in Plainview's athletic program. He has two sons, Jacob, a junior, and Marcos Jr., a freshman, who are part of the Plainview athletic program. He also has a daughter, Alexa, who is a second grader. Hinojos' wife, Jessica, teaches at LaMesa Elementary.
According to DiSalvo, those things tie the coach to the community in a way that would not be immediately possible with somebody new to Plainview.
"I think Coach Hinojos' heart is in Plainview," Di-Salvo said. "He understands that if he's not successful, it affects the whole community."
From the other angle, Wrenn was impressed with Hinojos' commitment to all of the programs in Plainview, whether it was Tiger League football or Little League baseball.
He also liked the fact that the new athletic director has high expectations for his coaching staff. He not only expects them to teach sports on the playing field, but to be good teachers in the classroom.
At the same time, Hinojos expects the coaches to be good role models.
"I think that's just so important," Wrenn said. "We've got a lot of eyes watching us. Being a good role model and helping kids make the right decisions are very important to him."
Board President Daniel Rascon wrapped up Monday's meeting with comments concerning Hinojos' push for discipline and accountability.
"It gives me great joy to hear you say that," Rascon said. "It's just music to my ears to hear you say you want your coaches to be teachers in the classroom."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment