By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Athletic changes within the Brownsville Independent School District keep coming.
Just days after Hanna football coach/athletic coordinator Rene Medrano decided to retire after 30 years with the school district at the end of this month, his successor has been named.
Former BISD athletic director Mark Guess will take over as interim football coach/athletic coordinator at Hanna. Rivera football coach/athletic coordinator Tom Chavez will assume the interim BISD athletic director role while keeping up his duties for Rivera.
Guess had expressed an interest to return to coaching after holding the position of athletic director for the school district for the past four years.
“That’s what I wanted to do,” Mark Guess, the new Hanna coach, said. “It was great experience as the athletic director … after being away from the kids, I started to miss it. I was fortunate enough to be considered as the interim, so we’ll go from there.”
Guess was the football coach/athletic coordinator at Brownsville Veterans Memorial when it opened in 2010. Two years later, he took the BISD athletic director position. But he felt he belonged back on the sideline.
“I really enjoy working with kids and I think that’s more my forte,” he said. “The opportunity was there and it happened to work out that way.”
The new Golden Eagles coach hopes to be elevated beyond the interim tag very soon as he hopes to be in his new role for a while.
“I certainly want to stay and have the opportunity to build a good program,” Guess said. “And win some football games, some district championships, make some runs in the playoffs.
“I just wanted to get back on the field. It’s good to be a part of it again; I’m really excited about it. I’m going to make the most of it.”
As for Chavez, he has held the role of the BISD athletic director before. He held the position for two years in-between coaching roles a few years back. He felt it was something he should do for the district.
“It’s what I need to do,” Chavez said. “I’ve been there, done that, so I should be able to handle it.”
Given his past experience, the Raiders coach felt it was something he could handle, but he wanted to continue coaching.
“I have a great coaching staff (to help out),” Chavez said. (The current administration staff) were there when I was AD, so it should be a smooth transition. Plus, I’ll be able to coach the kids and be with them.”
Guess thought Chavez was a good choice to replace him and was sure he could handle both jobs. The new Hanna coach was sure the other athletic coordinators in the district would help with the transition and extra things that may now fall on Chavez’s shoulders.
Although Chavez was a little surprised by Guess leaving the administration position and taking over at Hanna, he was happy to take over the role. However, the Raiders coach wasn’t sure which position he saw himself in during the next few years.
“That’s way down the road. I’m not going to think about it,” he said. “I have this opportunity right now. I wasn’t going to abandon (my football team), that’s for sure. But I’m not sure what’s in story for me in the future.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.