On Mar. 13, the Bonita Vista High (BVH) football program held a lunch meeting for all football players to reveal the newly hired varsity football coaching staff for the upcoming 2020-2021 season. After former head coach Sam Kirkland III resigned, Athletic Director Tyler Arciaga announced he would be taking over the position.

Kirkland, who coached the Barons for two seasons, abruptly withdrew from his position as both head football coach and as facilitator of the Student Help Center on Feb. 24. Over the past two weeks, BVH Principal Roman Del Rosario, Ed.D., and the athletic department released applications strictly for internal staff. After carefully evaluating internal applicants from BVH, Del Rosario ultimately hired Arciaga as the head coach for the remainder of the year, as well as the 2020-2021 season. 

“I wasn’t planning on coaching this year, [but BVH] is my alma mater [and] it seemed like everything was at the right time to get the coaching staff together – some of my mentors and guys that coached me. [I’m] just trying to get Bonita back to what it used to be,” Arciaga said. 

Arciaga, who made his return to BVH after becoming the school’s new Athletic Director earlier this semester, has coached football for 10 years, more recently serving as the head coach for Mar Vista High varsity football. He also was a quarterback at both a college and professional level, playing for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as for the Danube Dragons, a professional Austrian American football team. 

In addition to the head coach position, Arciaga announced the addition of a new coaching staff for varsity football, as well as new junior varsity football head coach, Biology teacher Keith Dewalt. Within the new varsity staff, familiar faces returned to BVH, including former Physical Education teacher and Defensive Coordinator Gregory Raby, along with running back coach Carl Parrick, who previously coached the Barons for 20 years. 

“This [season] will be my 46th year [coaching]. I’ve always been a Baron, and when I found out a couple of days ago that Arciaga was [coaching] here, I jumped at the chance to coach for him and get this program turned around,” Parrick said. 

Parrick mentioned that he had been following the past seasons of Barons football, and hopes to bring his own coaching style to improve the team. Most importantly, he stressed the importance of discipline in academics, as well as the unity needed in order for the program to succeed. 

“We really need to get stronger,” Parrick said. “This team needs to [be] a family, and you’re not a family until everybody buys into what they’re doing. Every kid has to be focused and needs to buy into [the program] for the next kid to do the same.”

The news of a new staff shocked many of the football players, including junior and Varsity Football center, Sean Murphy. Murphy mentioned that he believed players should be able to play a part in the hiring process, especially because Arciaga will be his third coach in Murphy’s three years at BVH. Regardless of his frustration, he is excited for what is to come in next season with Arciaga.

“I wish the administration would have involved the actual team more in the [hiring] process because we honestly didn’t know what was going on. I know a lot of us feel strongly about what’s been going on because we want to make sure we have a good senior year, but I’m sure this year will be great,” Murphy said. 

Currently, the team is unable to practice due to the outbreak of COVID-19, as the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) canceled all school-related activities until April 3. Despite the complications, Arciaga is hopeful of his team, and will meet with his fellow coaches to create, develop and institute a system for the Barons to practice after spring break. 

“It’s an honor [and] a privilege to coach this team. I know what Bonita can be and we’re going to do our best to get it to where it should be,” Arciaga said. “I know there’s some great kids here, and we’re just looking forward to getting back to it.”