By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
It was the perfect opportunity for Los Fresnos football coach/athletic director Clint Finley.
The Falcons coach has accepted the same position at Big Spring High School after being recommended for the vacancy late last week and approved by the Big Spring Independent School District on Tuesday.
“I was approved by the board this evening, and everything’s a go,” Los Fresnos coach Clint Finley said.
Finley leaves behind a successful program at Los Fresnos. His team has won a share of the District 32-6A title during the past two seasons.
Finley went 47-22 overall in six seasons at the helm, including 33-11 in district. The Falcons went 3-6 in the playoffs and made the postseason in each season under his watch.
Phillip Ritchey, the football coach/athletic director at Big Spring, announced this fall he would retire at the end of the school year, creating an opening for the 2016 season.
Finley will take over the Steers, who compete in Class 4A Division I in District 3, struggled to a 2-7 record this past season and missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
It was an opportunity he had to take.
“It’s a place that is familiar to me, a place I know, a place I lived previously,” Finley said. “I know a lot of people in town. It happens to be closer to my family and my wife’s family.
“It was one of those few opportunities out there that was perfect for me at this time. It was an opportunity too good to pass up.”
Finley said that being close to family was important at this stage in life. When he came to Los Fresnos, he had a wife and one child. Now Finley’s family has expanded to three children.
“I get to continue to do what I enjoy doing, and my kids get to have a relationship with their grandparents,” Finley said, noting his wife can continue teaching with this new opportunity. “It was the perfect situation. I wouldn’t have left for anything or any place, I loved Los Fresnos.”
Finley said the decision to leave was tough, but he would have been selfish to his family if he did.
“I was really happy right where I was,” he said. “I love that place, it was hard (to leave). We built something strong that we’re very proud of.”
Finley said he’s going to miss all aspects of Los Fresnos, from the kids to the administration to his coaching staff.
“I’m going to miss everything about it,” he said. “It’s a great place where people do the best for kids. It’s been great for me. I got two families, but I have to take care of the first one now.”
The Falcons’ coach is excited for his new opportunity.
“I’m very excited for a new challenge,” Finley said. “I’m kind of starting over so it’s a little scary, but at the same time it’s exciting. We’re all excited. It’s a bittersweet deal, but we made the decision so we’re going to do our best to make sure it’s the right decision.”
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.