‘I appreciate everything the school has done for me.’ El Capitan football coach resigns
El Capitan High School has begun a search for a new head football coach after Frank Solis resigned earlier this week.
According to Gauchos athletic director Rodd Parker, the position was posted online Thursday and the school will be accepting applications until Jan. 22.
“We’re looking to get the job filled right away so our players will know who their coach is,” Parker said. “We appreciate everything Frank has done for the program the past three years.”
Solis, who officially resigned on Tuesday, said it was a mutual agreement between himself and the school.
“First and foremost I was blessed for the opportunity to get the job,” Solis said. “The administrators showed a lot of respect toward me in hiring an inexperienced head coach. I’m happy for the past three years. I appreciate everything the school has done for me.”
The football program hasn’t been able to establish a winning program since the school opened in 2013.
Since the program started playing varsity games, El Capitan has compiled an 8-52 record in six years, including 3-27 under Solis the past three seasons.
The next coach will be the third head varsity coach in seven years, following Solis and Mike Machado, who is now the head coach at Porterville High School.
“We need a coach who wants to come in and build a program,” Parker said. “We’re looking for someone who is going to be around for a while. We’re not looking for someone to fill in the gap for a few years. We want a long-term commitment. We want someone who wants to be there for the athletes and students.”
El Capitan has been successful in just about every sport winning Central California Conference championships. This past fall El Capitan won CCC championships in girls volleyball, and boys and girls water polo.
Last year the Gauchos won the CCC Excellence Award for their success in sports across the board.
“Every other program has been successful, but nothing turns a culture of a school and rallies the students like a winning football team,” Parker said. “It’s very important to establish a winning program.”
Solis said one of the hardest parts of getting the ball rolling was being able to hire coaches at the school. According to Solis, during his three years coaching at El Capitan, he averaged about five coaches at the varsity level and only three coaches at the lower level. He would have liked to see the number at eight coaches for varsity and five coaches for the lower levels.
Parker said he hasn’t heard any names of potential applicants, but he has heard there is interest in the job.
“It’s important for us to have a job on campus so we have to look at some of the teaching jobs that we will have coming open,” he said. “I haven’t heard any names specifically, but people have been asking questions. That’s a good sign people are showing interest.”
Parker feels between the facilities on campus and their student athletes, there is enough in place to draw in quality candidates.
“All of our equipment is pretty much brand new,” Parker said. “I think our biggest thing is our dedicated student athletes. We’ve proven it in other sports. I think we have the athletes here to build. We’re waiting for someone to grab it and run with it.”
