BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
When Mission Veterans opens its season on Tuesday, Diana Lerma will be back where she had been for so long: in the coach’s seat.
Her previous stint as the Patriots coach lasted 14 years. During that time, she won 11 district titles and made four trips to the regional tournament.
On Oct. 15, 2015, Lerma was reassigned to Alton Memorial Jr. High after a group of players’ parents alleged a long-standing pattern of player mistreatment, profanity and bullying.
“It was the saddest thing that ever happened to me,” Lerma said. “This is my hometown. This is where I was born and raised.”
Freer native and 25-year coaching veteran Martina Carrillo was brought in to take over the Patriots last year. Carrillo made an impact right away, leading the team to a district title.
Carrillo, who earned her master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration, was presented with a new opportunity at the beginning of 2017. After Leticia Ibarra, Lerma’s sister, was promoted from PE and Health Coordinator to Athletic Director, Ibarra’s former position was available to Carrillo.
“I got promoted,” Carrillo said. “It’s a career move, and it’s in the best interest of the district.”
Following Carrillo’s promotion, the Mission Veterans volleyball coaching position was vacant. Mission CISD superintendent Dr. Ricardo Lopez knew a fresh coaching search would take some time.
“Coach Lerma expressed interest,” Lopez said. “Our principal (Fidel Garza) evaluated it and made a recommendation on his own. His recommendation was that instead of opening up a pool, her return would best fit the needs of Veterans. He would ensure that it would be a smooth transition.”
Because Lerma was already working within the district, instituting her as the Mission Vets volleyball coach would be a reassignment rather than a hire. Therefore, the school district did not need to post the job, review other applicants or have a board vote. In January, Lopez reviewed Garza’s recommendation and decided to proceed with that plan of action.
“(Garza) is a person that we trust,” Lopez said. “So we said, ‘OK, we are going to honor that decision.’ And so, we went with the principal’s recommendation.”
Sonia Treviño, Lerma’s sister, was voted to the board on May 5, 2016.
Lopez said no special actions were taken in Lerma’s reassignment process because Lerma’s sisters had no influence in the decision.
“In every school district, you are going to have people that are related. It’s inevitable,” Lopez said. “We love the Valley, and we don’t want to leave.
“When we look at the candidates, we look at everything objectively. … Our board has been really good about staying out of personnel matters, and they have been good about not being intrusive on any personnel matters because they understand that those are situations where the district needs have to be met.”
Lerma said she earned the job on her own merits.
“I am one of the winningest coaches before she even came on the school board,” Lerma said. “I don’t need my sisters for anything. My record was set way before they even came into the picture.”
For Amanda Contreras, the mother of Mission Veterans senior Iliana Contreras, Lerma’s move caused some concern.
“It is all about politics,” Amanda Contreras said of Lerma’s rehiring.
Two years ago, Iliana Contreras made the decision to leave the volleyball team while Lerma was the coach. Last year, with Carrillo as the coach, Iliana Contreras returned to the team and shined, earning all-district honors.
When Lerma’s return to the team was announced, Iliana Contreras again gave up playing for the Patriots.
“She’s not playing because they brought back the coach,” Amanda Contreras said.
When asked about Iliana Conreras’ decision to forego her senior season, Lerma said: “As coaches, we are in a profession where you can not keep everybody happy.
“You as a coach, you always work with whatever shows up. Not to speak badly on why they did not come out or why they did. Me as a player, I look back to my high school years. My coach was very disciplined. I had the highest respect (for my coach). That’s who we become. We are in a profession that we hope that everybody would be coming out for your team. But there are young ladies who wish not to come out. It’s their decision, and it’s how they feel.”