One of Tucsonβs most storied high school football programs is looking for a new coach for the second time in two months.
Kevin Kuhm has resigned from his new post at Sunnyside to return to Nogales, where he will serve as the schoolβs athletic director and football coach. The 28-year-old Kuhm was hired by the Blue Devils in February to replace Glenn Posey, who stepped down after five seasons with the team.
βI never wanted to leave Nogales and the timing was poor,β said Kuhm, who is about to complete his masterβs degree in educational leadership through Northern Arizona University. βNow I have the opportunity to serve Nogales student-athletes and Iβm looking forward to that.
βItβs the next step in my career path in becoming a principal one day, and I get to be where I want to be and coach the kids I want to coach.β
Sunnyside is coming off back-to-back state playoff appearances and has reached the postseason in 15 of the last l7 seasons. The Blue Devils won state championships in 2001 and 2003 under longtime coach Richard Sanchez.
Kuhm had hopes of getting Sunnyside back to that level when he stepped down as Nogalesβ football coach to take over the program. Kuhm said he was excited β but also reluctant β about the move, because he and his family have called Santa Cruz County home for the last several years.
The Virginia native spent two seasons at Rio Rico before moving on to Nogales. He led the Hawks to a 6-5 mark and their first state playoff appearance in 2013.
Kuhmβs wife, Jessica, is a Nogales High School graduate and works in Rio Rico. The move to Tucson would have been complicated for them and their 2-year-old daughter. Kuhm couldnβt turn down the opening at Nogales; the athletic directorβs job wasnβt available when he left two months ago.
βIt was the best decision for me and my family because we donβt have to move,β Kuhm said. βItβs nice to know that Iβm going to be able to see my family on a daily basis, be a part of their lives and give them some stability, to know that weβre going to be here for the long haul.β
Sunnyside must act fast to find a new coach, with spring football looming and the season just a few months away. The Blue Devils host Pueblo on Aug. 26 in their first game.