Rich Lucero Went 1-9 In Only Season With Bears
SAN JUAN, TX -- The PSJA football program is looking for their second new head coach in less than a year after Rich Lucero announced Wednesday morning that he was no longer the Athletic Coordinator/Head Football Coach for the Bears.
A PSJA ISD spokesperson was careful to point out that this was not a resignation, nor a reassignment, but a change in postions, and that several options for Lucero would be considered moving forward.
When contacted by ACTION 4 SPORTS, Coach Lucero declined comment, directing all inquiries to the district public information offer.
PSJA athletic director Orlando Garcia and assistant AD Mel Rios did not return phone calls requesting comment.
Lucero was hired less than a year ago to coach the Bears after having spent several seasons as an assistant at Katy Taylor HS.
During spring football, the District 31-5A Executive Committee found the Bears in violation of practice rules and docked PSJA two Saturday sessions.
In the 2012 regular season, PSJA defeated Edinburg Vela before dropping their next 9 games.
That losing streak included two very close losses to playoff teams Los Fresnos and McAllen Rowe, but the Bears' other 7 losses were by an average of 34 points per game.
In November of 2012, Mel Rios resigned from PSJA after a decade as head coach, 23 years with the Bears overall, to become the PSJA ISD assistant athletic director.
Official Statement from PSJA ISD regarding Coach Lucero's announcement
Coach Richard Lucero has announced today that he is leaving the position of Athletic Coordinator at PSJA High School to pursue other professional administrative options within the district.
He announced his decision to his athletes and coaches this morning. Coach Lucero is evaluating all of his options at this time. He thanks his coaching staff and student athletes for their support and commitment to the program.
All future plans for vacant positions are forthcoming.
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