Following a month-long search, Cienega High School will hire Tucson High's Justin Argraves to be the football program's next head coach, pending approval from the Vail School District Governing Board.
The 37-year-old Argraves replaces Pat Nugent, who is taking over Mica Mountain's football program and reuniting with MMHS principal — and Cienega coaching icon — Nemer Hassey.
"Being named head coach (at Cienega) is a tremendous honor and a tremendous opportunity," Argraves told the Star Friday. "I'm really excited to dive in and get surrounded by the Vail community, meet the kids, meet the coaches and the staff over at Cienega and get ready to get to work.
"It was a very hard decision. Being at Tucson High for 10 years and establishing those relationships with players, teachers and coaches. But Cienega has always been one of the top schools in Southern Arizona — if not the state."
Tucson Badgers head coach Justin Argraves talks with a referee after a call during a game against the Pueblo Warriors at Pueblo High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. The Pueblo Warriors held the Badgers at bay with a final score of 21-7.
Cienega principal Kim Middelton said Argraves "comes to Bobcat Nation with a solid legacy of tremendous success competing in (Class) 6A Arizona high school football as the former head coach at Tucson High School. Our mission was to find a person who shares our community’s values and maintain our legacy of creating champions both on the field and in our classrooms. Coach Argraves is that person."
In a decade with the Badgers, Argraves went 53-43 (.552) and posted six winning seasons. He coached Buffalo Bills cornerback Levi Wallace for two seasons (2011-12) before he went on to win two national championships at Alabama.
"This was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make," said Argraves, a graduate of both Santa Rita High School and the UA. "I love Tucson High and the community over there. ... It was very difficult to make this decision, but right now I think it's the best decision for me and my family moving forward."
Argraves will become the third coach in Cienega history, following Nugent and Hassey.
Nugent posted a 48-14 record in six seasons at Cienega, leading the Bobcats to back-to-back Class 5A state semifinal appearances behind star quarterback Jamarye Joiner.
The foundation of Cienega's success as a football program was built by Hassey. Between 2003-14, Hassey went 141-50 and led the Bobcats to 10 consecutive postseason appearances, including a spot in the 2011 Division II state championship.
Tucson Badgers head coach Justin Argraves watches as his team warms up before a game against the Pueblo Warriors at Pueblo High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2019.
"From Coach Hassey to Coach Nugent, those two played a huge role in establishing the culture at Cienega, and getting it to where it is today," Argraves said.
"I'm very honored to continue what they put into the program."
