photo by Brittany Volz
CAPTION: Newly hired athletic director and head football coach Juan Morales speaks with Gavel Executive Editor Alondra Martinez today during a fifth period meeting with next year’s football players. Coach Morales joins the Husky campus after taking Highlands HS to multiple playoff appearances in recent years.
As coach Eddie Salas and other coaches depart for jobs at NISD’s new Harlan HS, newly-hired athletic director and head coach Juan Morales gave a speech to the future football athletes today during fifth period.
Morales is joining Husky nation from Highlands HS, where he took a losing team and brought them to back-to-back playoff appearances and winning records, but he is looking forward to partaking in Holmes’ rich traditions. From seeing Holmes football in previous years and watching them grow as a team, he has excitement for the new change.
“The tradition at Holmes High is really something that I want to be a part of,” Morales said.
Morales hopes to approach the game in a different way than previous styles, such as incorporating more running plays and simpler defensive strategies. He hopes to bring a new energy to the team.
“I think it’s going to lend itself to the types of athletes that we have and they’re going to enjoy that,” Morales said.
Right away, the new coach has hopes of getting the team into the playoffs and possibly winning a district title, an accomplishment that hasn’t been done here since the 2000-2001 football season.
“I want to see what we have ready to go because I’m about winning right away. I’m not trying to make a three year plan in terms of winning,” Morales said.
Morales wants to continue to develop the team and build upon the foundation that Salas has started.
“Right now, the first round of alignment that we have here in the state is extremely difficult. To be able to compete and be able to do that, that’s where I want to be,” Morales said.
Not only is Morales trying to change the plays that the boys will use, but he also wants to teach and give them qualities that will grow them as people.
“My values are simple. I want to make sure that we maintain discipline, max effort, enthusiasm and pride in what we do. That we take care of all the of little things, and we play as a team and exhibit that,” Morales said.
The speech that he gave to the athletes roused up excitement in them for the new season.
“He made me feel like he’s going to make a positive change to the team,” sophomore football player Harley Valdillez said.