By Cuyler Meade
Marcos de Niza has reportedly found its new head coach.
Former Poston Butte and Blue Ridge head coach Paul Moro will take the open position with the Padres, left vacant after Sean Morin stepped down in March.
Marcos went 12-2 last season and lost in the Division II State Final to Scottsdale Saguaro.
Moro went 7-4 with Poston Butte in his first season with the team, but then suffered a winless season in 2015 before resigning in March after just two seasons with the team.
With 325 wins, Moro is seven victories from becoming the all-time winningest coach in Arizona high school football.
Some may be surprised by Moro’s decision to take the position so quickly after his resignation from Poston Butte, as at the time of his resignation he told azcentral sports that, while he didn’t see himself being done coaching, the workload was too much for him at that time.
Marcos de Niza was likely an attractive opening for many qualified candidates, having recorded a winning record in every season going back a decade. Moro will have the luxury of working with talented senior-to-be quarterback Naz Greer and a handful of returning skill players. The Tempe school’s decision to go with Moro speaks to the longtime Blue Ridge coach’s cache in the Valley, notwithstanding his recent struggles at Poston Butte working with a young, inexperienced team which was hit by key injuries to Chase Taylor and Sergio Hernandez.
