By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
After just a year as head football coach/athletic director at Port Isabel, Jaime Infante has decided to resign.
Despite a disappointing 2-7 season that had many growing pains, including a transition to a new offensive system and injuries to at least three quarterbacks and other key players, the Tarpons still nearly made the playoffs. But a loss in their district finale ended the frustrating season, and six months later, the long-time head coach tendered his resignation to Port Isabel ISD on Friday.
“I did resign and I’ll stay here through the end of my contract to the end of June,” Infante said. “It was my choice … the good Lord opened the doors for me, but it’s time for that door to close and see what else opens up.
“I’m staying positive about the whole thing.”
It was Infante’s second stint with the school, he was previously at Port Isabel as an assistant, including as the offensive coordinator in Monty Stumbaugh’s first season in 2001 before he left to become the head coach at Lyford. He had been there every since before he returned to Port Isabel last year.
Port Isabel ISD Superintendent Dr. Lisa Garcia confirmed the resignation Monday, but offered little else on the situation.
“We don’t talk about personnel issues … we not going to make a comment about personnel issues,” she said. “He resigned and that’s his right.”
Dr. Garcia and the school district must now find a new football coach/athletic director for the second time in two years.
Infante was frustrated with the past football season, but felt the offseason was off to a good start.
“The kids have been working their tails off, they’ve done a great job,” he said. “We felt good about installing what we did in the spring. I felt like we were just getting the ball rolling in the offseason.”
While there was much speculation surrounding the situation in recent days and while it still isn’t completely clear, the outcome is. Infante is set to leave on his own terms.
Infante has coached for 36 years, including 19 as a head coach at Falfurrias, Lyford and Port Isabel where he has combined to earn over 100 wins, three district titles and 11 postseason berths.
“I’ve been blessed with every job I’ve had,” he said. “I’ve had a great 36 years of experience, I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed working with the kids, the administrators, the coaches throughout the Valley.”
While Infante is open about the next chapter in his career, retirement could be an option as well.
“I’m talking to my family and my wife would like me to retire,” he said. “Retirement looks like the best option, but when you’ve done this for 36 years it’s hard to hang up the coaching hat … we’ll see what happens. I feel I can serve in a lot of other capacities and help out the community and help out kids, it’s what I’ve enjoyed doing.
“Right now, we’re looking toward retirement … but who knows what the future holds, so we’re going to take it one day at a time.”
Infante wouldn’t give his reasons for the sudden resignation, instead ending his short tenure on a good note.
“I don’t want to do anything to hurt the program, the (school) district or the kids,” he said. “I don’t want to say anything negative, I don’t believe in doing things that way. We’re going to resign and do what’s best for our family.”
Infante wished the program well going forward without him at the helm.
“I want to wish the players, the coaches and the administration of Port Isabel the best,” he said. “This is my second go-around here and I’ve enjoyed every year I’ve been here. We had a great offseason and I think they’ll be extremely competitive next year. It’s the way you want to leave kids; I think we left them on a good note with me stepping out. There’s a lot of good coaches out there that will come in and take over unless they pick someone within. I think they’ll be in good shape.”
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.