Cherry reassigned from Harlingen South's head post

HARLINGEN - For the second time in two calendar years, Harlingen South is without a head football coach.

Harlingen superintendent Steve Flores confirmed Wednesday that Hawks football coach and athletic coordinator Alan Cherry was reassigned within the school district and relieved of his duties effective immediately.

Cherry is now a subject coordinator in the physical education department.

"Coach Cherry has been reassigned in the best interest of the school district and Harlingen South," Flores said.

"And that is effective today (Wednesday)."

The move comes less than two weeks after the season ended in dreadful manner that saw the Hawks go 2-8. This came just one season after South went 10-0, won the District 31-5A championship and went three rounds deep into the playoffs in 2007.

"Things like this happen and it's unfortunate that they happen," Cherry said. "But they happen a lot. It doesn't always go the way it's supposed to or the way you want it to go. But that's OK."

Cherry was hired to replace Jim Helms in March of 2007. Helms left South in January 2007 after serving as the Hawks' head coach for three years. He took over as Brownsville Rivera head coach.

In February, RGVSports.com reported that Cherry was put on administrative leave during an investigation. During the suspension Cherry was asked to clean out his office and restricted from stepping foot on the campus, his attorney said in February.

The Harlingen school district conducted an internal investigation for about a week before Cherry was reinstated as head coach and athletic coordinator. Flores said discussion concerning a replacement hasn't even come up yet.

The job will be posted statewide, Flores said.

"We need to find a candidate that best fits Harlingen South," Flores said. "But we haven't began that process. I think we want to wait until after the playoffs. Any playoff caliber coach is focused on only the playoffs right now and winning this week.

"So that hasn't been discussed yet."

Cherry was the fourth head coach in Harlingen South history.

Alex Leal, John Lerma and Helms preceded Cherry.