When the football coaching job opens at one of the state’s largest schools, it tends toget some attention.
Given the weather-related postponements of games and a variety of other topics, South Kitsap athletic director Ed Santos has had an opportunity to speak with anumber of his colleagues since football coach D.J. Sigurdson resigned April 11 to become an assistant principal at the school.
“During thespring, you talk with your fellow athletic directors,” Santos said. “There’s a few jokes about, ‘Don’t steal my coach.’ ”
But Santos said the high-school ranks remain different from collegiate and professional jobs.
“We’re not into recruiting coaches too much,” he said.
Santos recently received an inquiry from Florida about the opening. But because of a contract agreement with the South Kitsap Coaches Association, Santos said theposition first must be posted at the high school and then within the school district before it can be listed for external candidates. He declined to outline the timeline for when — or if — that will occur.
Previous experience running a football program is not required, but Santos said it is beneficial.
“I think previous head-coaching experience is always a good thing,” he said. “Having coaching experience is a really important factor.”
But Santos also said he understands that every coach has to start somewhere.
“How do you get head-coaching experience without someone giving you an opportunity?” he said.
Similar to other coaching openings at the school, Santos said the candidate will be interviewed by a committee. He said that usually consists of five to seven people.
“The head football job is a big job,” he said. “I feel like all of our head coaching jobs are big jobs. I don’t think the process will be markedly different.”
That includes a forum where returning players can vet candidates. Santos said a moderator at that event “collects all the information the returning players give him.”
While the season does not begin until September, spring practice starts in late May. Ideally, Santos said he would like a coach to have a couple of weeks to prepare.
