NOTES: Program-building coaches move on
Two prep coaches who started the programs at their schools have stepped down.
Nate Selby resigned after 13 seasons as baseball coach at Sierra Vista and is being succeeded by assistant Justin Sherman, and Legacy football coach Dave Snyder is moving on after eight seasons with the Longhorns.
Selby built the Mountain Lions into an area power — Selby and his father, Garry, laid the concrete and brick at Lion Field — and won the 2005 Class 4A state championship in the program’s fourth season. Selby produced five Major League Baseball draft picks, including Houston Astros first baseman Chris Carter and 2011 Tampa Bay Rays’ first-rounder Jake Hager.
Sierra Vista missed out on the postseason for the first time this season, and the school is expected to move into Division I-A starting in the fall. Sierra Vista athletic director Michael Jackson declined to comment whether that factored into Selby’s decision.
Selby did not return voice-mail messages seeking comment.
“Selby doesn’t have to apologize to anybody. He’s been the most successful coach since the beginning of the school,” Jackson said. “Obviously, it’s his choice, and it’s not something we wanted to occur. We wish him well.”
Legacy developed into perennial playoff contenders under Snyder, who went 40-40 at the school. The Longhorns qualified for the postseason four times and snagged the Northwest League title in 2009, when they won their first 11 games.
“I coached a lot of great kids here, and I enjoyed every one of them,” Snyder said. “From the ground up, everything is in place for whoever takes over.”
Among the myriad coaching changes around the valley, Arbor View boys basketball coach Kyle Hageness also said he resigned after five seasons. Hageness led the Aggies to the past two Northwest League titles.
■ GAELS IN PRESEASON RANKINGS — It’s never too early for football, and CBS MaxPreps released its 2014 preseason top 25 this week, with Bishop Gorman checking in at No. 13.
The Gaels have won five straight large-school state titles under coach Tony Sanchez and open their season Aug. 22 when they host Brophy Prep (Ariz.) in the ninth annual Sollenberger Classic.
■ VOLLEYBALL HONORS —Tanner Compton was named Southern Nevada Most Valuable Player, and Ray Lewis earned Coach of the Year after leading Legacy’s boys volleyball team to the Division I state championship.
Compton was joined on the All-Southern Nevada first team by teammates Trent Compton, Branden Liu and Zaire Franklin, Valley’s Jack Heavey, Coronado’s Max Osmundson and Las Vegas’ Shayne Marquez, T.J. Esporas and Chris Kampshoff. Marquez was the Sunrise Region MVP.
Jovan Carrazco, who helped Mojave to the Division I-A state title, was the Sunset League MVP and Mojave’s Erik Davis was Coach of the Year. Pierce Morgan of Chaparral was the I-A Sunrise League MVP, and Chaparral’s Courtney Cloud was Coach of the Year.
■ RECRUITING WATCH — Bishop Gorman junior Brandon Wulff orally committed to Stanford, Cheyenne senior Scott Flinn committed to Cerro Coso College (Calif.), Tech senior Abel Martinez committed to Taft College (Calif.), and Tech seniors Bryan Casas and Eli Peinado committed to College of the Siskiyous (Calif.) for baseball. … Cheyenne senior Javon Peterson signed with Central Wyoming for men’s basketball. … Bishop Gorman senior Sandria Bolden and Valley senior Gabrielle Cabanero each committed to Dixie State (Utah) for women’s basketball. … Shadow Ridge senior Dallas Gunny committed to Occidental (Calif.), and Tech senior Alexandra Guzman committed to Massachusetts-Lowell for women’s soccer. … Tech senior Salvador Garcia committed to Lake Tahoe College (Calif.) for men’s soccer. … Arbor View senior Dacia Sykes signed with College of Southern Nevada, and Tech senior Kimmie Rodriguez committed to Nicholls State (La.) for softball. … Tech senior Martin Ponce committed to Montana State for cross country and track. … Green Valley senior Bridgette Dwyer signed with Olympic College (Wash.), and Shadow Ridge junior Ashley Smith committed to Kansas for women’s volleyball. … Spring Valley senior Eduardo Penha signed with Northwest College (Wyo.) for wrestling.
