GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
Mission Veterans Memorial volleyball coach Diana Lerma has been reassigned to Alton Memorial Jr. High, ending the tenure of one of the Valley’s most successful high school coaches.
The decision, which comes after Lerma had twice been suspended from coaching duties this season for unspecified reasons, was confirmed via email Thursday by Mission CISD Director of Public Relations Craig Verley.
Lerma was serving her 14th year at the helm of the Mission Veterans program, having won 11 district titles. Under her watch, the Lady Patriots advanced to the regional tournament four times: 2003, 2007, 2013 and 2014.
Mission Veterans is ranked No. 1 in the latest RGVSports.com Top 10 poll and is the No.5-ranked 5A school in the state according to the Texas Girls Coaches Association. The Lady Patriots are 32-3 overall and 9-0 in District 31-5A. The team hasn’t lost a district match since 2012.
Lerma declined to comment on her situation, as did Mission Veterans athletic coordinator David Gilpin. Assistant coach Vivian Ray, who Verley said would be filling in for the remainder of the season, could not be reached for comment.
Verley did not elaborate on the reasoning for Lerma’s reassignment.