H.S. Football: Iraan begins hunt to replace Willis

The Iraan-Sheffield Independent School District officially has opened up its football and athletics director jobs and already has 60 applicants.

The job became available last week when Joe Willis took a position as an assistant football coach at Cedar Park, a Class 5A school.

“We’ve got some 3A and 4A head coaches and athletic directors that have sent in resumes,” Iraan superintendent Kevin Allen said. “I have been very impressed at the quality of the applicants, shocked in a sense.”

Allen said that he will review the resumes this week. Then, he hopes to start interviews next week and make a hire before the end of the month.

“For us, it is a good thing,” Allen said. “I think (the resumes received) says something about the job Joe Willis did having our program viewed from a state perspective as a premier 1A program.”

Willis’ resignation was accepted at a school board meeting Monday.

Willis went 22-12 in three years at Iraan. The Braves went to the playoffs twice, including to the Class 1A Division II regional round in 2006.