Weslaco High's Villarreal may receive extension

WESLACO —Weslaco High head football coach Tony Villarreal may stay with the school through 2012 pending a decision on a one-year contract extension by the school board.

It also turns out that WISD Superintendent Dr. Richard Rivera kept his word, recommending a contract extension for the veteran coach despite tension between Villarreal and administrators last season.

According to the agenda for the WISD School Board for 6 p.m. on Monday, members of the board will meet in executive session to consider and discus the possibility of extending Villarreal’s contract for another season.

The potential move comes after Villarreal, who has coached at WISD since 2005, was relieved from his athletic coordinator duties last year, leading him to ultimately file a series of unsuccessful grievances against the personnel move.

“It’s a surprise,” Villarreal said. “I’m pleasantly surprised. That’s great news — Christmas in July.”

All indications pointed to both parties perhaps going their separate ways after Villarreal’s contract expired after the 2010-11 school year. Some may have believed Villarreal may not receive an extension when Weslaco East athletic coordinator Armando Cuellar’s contract was extended in February, but Villarreal’s was not.

His last shot to regain his old position as athletic coordinator came in May when he applied for the position, only to see baseball coach Eddie Serna receive the post.

However, it was Rivera himself who added the topic to the agenda and recommended for Villarreal to get his extension.

“We decided instead of waiting until the football season ends, we’ll do it now,” Rivera said. “Since all that happened (last year), he’s done his work in a professional matter and worked well with the principal. Principal (Isidoro) Nieto and I thought since we haven’t been (outright) district champs (since 1991), we just figured that’s our goal.

“We wanted coach Villarreal to know that he has a new contract and want him to focus on (a district title).”

Now it’s in the hands of seven board members to approve the recommendation by way of a majority vote. Villarreal heads into this season as football coach with a current annual salary of $98,856. Despite past tension with the school administration, Villarreal is hopeful a contract extension is a sign that he indeed is still wanted by the district.

“I’m very passionate about the kids in Weslaco,” Villarreal said. “I’m here, Weslaco is my home. It seemed like nobody believed me.”