The architect of Hope Christian’s state championship protection in 2019, and the person who put collectively Albuquerque Academy’s stellar protection the final two years, is now the Chargers’ new head coach.
David Lee, 49, replaces Shaun Gehres, who not too long ago resigned.
“Simply to be at a faculty like Academy, with regard to its lecturers … all people is simply stable,” Lee mentioned. “I need to make the most of the alternatives we’ve got there.”
The Chargers have been a Class 4A state quarterfinalist the previous two seasons. Their protection has been among the finest in 4A since Lee took the job in 2020.
The San Diego native had spent the previous couple of seasons at Hope Christian. And through the finish of his tenure with the Huskies — he was a varsity assistant from 2015-19 — Hope Christian featured what was in all probability 3A’s stingiest protection.
Hope Christian registered seven shutouts in 2018 and gave up simply 5.4 factors a recreation.
The subsequent 12 months, the Huskies recorded eight shutouts (giving up simply 7.3 factors every week) in a season that culminated with a state title.
When Gehres stepped down, Lee mentioned, your complete teaching employees was shocked.
“We had no thought,” Lee mentioned.
“I hadn’t actually considered (turning into a head coach),” he added. “I used to be in a very good place being a defensive coordinator.”
However this opportunity was too good to cross up, Lee mentioned.
“Alternatives are slim and none in relation to head teaching positions, so I made a decision to maneuver on it,” he mentioned.
Lee, who mentioned he has been teaching since he was 19, has been a head coach on the YAFL stage; he coached for a spell in Manzano’s system, the place his offense was guided and constructed, largely, by Manzano’s then-varsity coach — and present Centennial coach — Aaron Ocampo.
“He actually took me underneath his wing,” Lee mentioned. “And (he helped) us construct the Manzano pipeline when he was there. A number of what I do know offensively got here from Aaron Ocampo.”
Lee works at Sandia Nationwide Laboratories in Albuquerque. He feels the Chargers will stay related in 4A.
“I’m extraordinarily excited,” he mentioned.