By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — The search for a new boys basketball coach is over for Harlingen High.
On Tuesday, Harlingen CISD named Clayton Cretors as Harlingen High’s new coach, replacing longtime coach Greg Yates, who retired earlier this year.
“He has been a staple of the community and for Harlingen High School for just about 10 years now,” HCISD interim athletic director Luis Solorio said. “He has always done a phenomenal job on representing the district well and he did exceptional in the interview. You can tell he is a coach’s son and has matured very well, and he is a proven winner and was a great athlete.”
Cretors served as an assistant on the varsity basketball team and was the boys junior varsity coach for the past several years. Also, he is on the football coaching staff.
“It is quite the honor. Harlingen CISD is a tremendous district and has so many great athletes that have come through here,” Cretors said by telephone. “To be named head coach of this program is an honor, and I’m humbled and I’m excited to get to work.”
Cretors, who graduated from Harlingen High in 2002, felt there was no question about whether he was going to apply for the job when it opened earlier this year.
“As soon as the job opened up, I knew I was going to apply for it,” Cretors said. “I checked the internet daily to see when it would open up, and when it did I took advantage of it pretty quickly and put my name in the hat, and waited to see if I was able to get an interview. But there was no question in my mind, this was something I wanted to do and this was an opportunity that I wanted.”
The Cardinals finished the season with a 23-14 overall record and went 7-3 in District 32-6A. Harlingen High reached the playoffs but lost to Weslaco High in the bi-district round this past winter.
“We are excited to play, and we will have a lot of energy,” Cretors said. “It will be a team that is passionate when we get on the court, and we will still have our expectations high like we always have had. We will be working hard and will have high goals just like we have had in the past.”