No major changes planned by new SJA head coach

The good news for the St. Joseph Academy football team is an important priority for new head coach Christian Putegnat: continuity.

Putegnat, 39, has succeeded former Bloodhounds head coach Brad Jones, who stepped down earlier this month and cited family reasons for his departure.

"It’s bittersweet taking over for Brad," said Putegnat, a 1988 SJA alum and close friend of Jones. "I wish he would have stayed, but I realize he has his own things to do. I feel that I’m ready to take over the reins and continue what we’ve started.

"We’re really not going to disrupt the kids any," Putegnat added. "There may be a few slight changes of Xs and Os here and there, but overall we feel like the program is basically going in the right direction. Things will stay pretty much the same."

Putegnat said he and Jones coached together at Cassidy High School in Oklahoma City about seven or eight years. He was the one who encouraged Jones to apply for the SJA vacancy a little more than one year ago, and when he got it both came down to coach together. Putegnat served as Jones’ offensive coordinator last season as the Bloodhounds rebounded from back-to-back 0-10 seasons and a 25-game losing streak to reach the TAPPS playoffs and finish 4-6.

The new head coach said Tino Villarreal will take over as offensive coordinator and Ray Cortinas will be the defensive coordinator.

"We’ve got some good players coming back, and that’s a positive," Putegnat said.

Two-a-day drills for the Bloodhounds start Aug. 3. The first regular-season game will be at home Aug. 28 against Taft. Before the season opens, the Bloodhounds have a three-way scrimmage scheduled with Valley View and Lyford, plus another scrimmage scheduled with Santa Rosa.

When asked what it’s like to become the head coach at his alma mater, Putegnat said, "It’s pretty exciting. It makes me think of my (head) coach when I was here, Coach (Joe) Peña. I’m thrilled to be a part of it."

Roy Hess writes for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him via e-mail at rhess@brownsvilleherald.com.