By Moses Leos III
A series of varsity head coaching hires has filled the void of vacancies within the Hays and Lehman athletic departments.
However, no announcement has been made toward the next head softball coach at Hays High.
Hays athletic coordinator Neal LaHue confirmed last week that Stephanie Coates will take the reins as the next Hays head volleyball coach.
“She was definitely the best applicant,” LaHue said. “She’s a go-getter. She’s enthusiastic and has a proven record.”
Coates takes over for Erica Walther, who stepped down from the Lady Rebel volleyball head coaching position in November. She’ll helm a program that has reached the playoffs in each of the past 13 seasons. Hays finished 2013 with a 29-16 mark.
“She will do a great job taking over our girls program,” LaHue said.
Since 2007, Coates compiled a 143-97 record with the Uvalde High Lady Coyotes, with Coates leading six teams to the playoffs. That includes a finish in the regional finals in 2009.
The head coaching vacancy within the Hays boys basketball program has been filled as well.
Sam Lunz, who was picked as an assistant under former Rebel boys head coach Robert Lucero, assumes the role of head coach this season.
Previously, Lunz worked alongside Lucero when they were assistant coaches at Westlake High. In early June, Lucero left Hays after one season to take over the head coaching position at Westlake.
The decision to bring in Lunz was based on familiarity, according to LaHue. In addition, his experience as a head coach at Hallettsville played a pivotal role.
“We felt he was great for the transition,” LaHue said. “He comes with a lot of experience.”
The Rebel boys basketball team held a 26-10 record last year, with the squad reaching the regional finals in the postseason.
However, still unaccounted for is the Hays head softball coaching position. In June, former Rebel head coach Aaron Fuller announced he was leaving Hays to take over the head coaching spot at Rosenberg Terry High. He has since been named head coach at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu.
As of press time, no announcement had been made toward the next Hays softball coach.
Meanwhile, the Lehman Lobos have also filled a trio of head coaching positions, two from within their own ranks.
Lehman athletic coordinator Todd Raymond said Monday that assistant coaches Robert Baker and Ramez Antoun were promoted to the head coaching ranks.
Baker will take over the boys soccer program, while Antoun assumes the team cross country head coaching job.
Over the past nine years, Jay Sansom held the role of boys soccer and cross country head coach. Sansom announced in June he was leaving to join the New Braunfels Canyon coaching staff as an assistant.
“[Baker and Antoun] are going to split those duties up,” Raymond said.
Under Sansom’s guidance last year, the Lobo soccer team made an appearance in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
Lehman High also filled its softball head coaching vacancy, Raymond said Monday.
Markita Adams will become the next head softball coach at Lehman High.
Adams’ background as a high school and collegiate softball player and coach was a deciding factor, according to Raymond.
She will take over a program that is fresh off its best season in program history. Under Bill Holmes, the Lady Lobos finished 18-13 last year, which saw the team reach the playoffs for the first time ever.
However, head coach Bill Holmes stepped down after the season, citing health reasons.
Raymond hopes Adams’ personality resonates with the team.
“She is a go-getter. She has a strong personality and she is energetic and excitable,” Raymond said. “That’s what our girls need.”
