Search for coach on hold at Soledad

SOLEDAD >> The coronavirus pandemic isn’t just affecting spring sports. Soledad has been forced to put its search for a head football coach on hold.

The Aztecs, who have been without a football coach since Eric Rodriguez stepped down in January, had held its first round interviews earlier this month.

Second interviews were slated for this week, until schools were shut down for an indefinite period.

“We had hoped to have hired a head coach by the end of this month,” Soledad athletic director Nick Twitchell said. “We were set for second interviews this week.”

All interviews are on hold, for how long is unknown as Twitchell is not even allowed on campus for the next three weeks.

“With all that is going on right now, this is so far on the back

burner,” Twitchell said. “We have to worry about how to educate our kids and get some of these kids their meals.”

Soledad has been in this position before, albeit for a far different reason. When Rodriguez was hired two years ago, it wasn’t until June because of the late resignation of the previous coach.

“I don’t have a clear plan,” Twitchell said. “Maybe when the dust settles and more important things have been figured out, we can put together a plan and finish the search. It’s not a priority right now.”

Soledad, which missed the playoffs for the first time in four years last fall, finished the season 5-5.

The Aztecs have posted winning seasons in seven of the last eight years, reaching the postseason six times, with two league titles and a Central Coast Section Division IV championship.

“Some of the kids were asking about it before all this came down,” Twitchell said. “I told them it is a process. It’s just going to take a little longer now. We’re in a holding pattern like the rest of the world.”

Because of the quarantine, there can be no meetings with the candidates who were slated for a second interview.

It is possible if the pandemic drags out longer than anticipated, interviews with the school’s hiring committee, which includes Twitchell, could be done by a conference call.

“I’m confident we will have someone hired in time,” Twitchell said. “We will be creative. If we can find a way to educate kids online and get them their hot meals, we can find a way to hire a coach.”

Unlike the late hiring of Rodriguez two years ago, Soledad will not be far behind other programs, as all sports and schools have been shutdown until further notice.

No football programs in the county or the CCS are allowed to conduct offseason conditioning in a group setting at this time. Spring practice for programs is in limbo.

Of course, implementing a new system will be a tall order if a coach isn’t in place before June. There has been no discussion of hiring an assistant coach from last year’s staff at this time on an interim basis.

Soledad will be in the Mission Division this coming fall. It’s slated to open the season August 27, hosting Alvarez.

“Every program isn’t doing a whole lot right now,” Twitchell said. “So hopefully we won’t be to far behind once we get this resolved.”