Kevin Kuhm is Sunnyside High School’s new football coach.
The district’s governing board on Wednesday approved the hiring of the 28-year-old Kuhm, who coached Nogales to an 8-3 record last fall.
“I’m just excited to get down there, evaluate the program and continue to build on the strengths and the tradition and also find areas that need to be improved, and improve those areas,” Kuhm said Thursday in a phone interview. “The one thing that’s always drawn me to Sunnyside and the one thing I’ve always respected about Sunnyside is just the toughness of the players. That’s something I don’t want to change.”
Kuhm will be one of four new coaches in Tucson next season. Cody House is taking over at Rincon/University, and Ryan Scherling is now in charge at Cholla. House previously spent one season at Santa Rita while Scherling coached Sierra Vista Buena to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2012 and 2013.
Pusch Ridge Christian, the defending Division IV state champion, will also have a new coach in Jerry Harris.
Kuhm replaces Glenn Posey, who stepped down as Sunnyside’s boss to become the wide receivers coach at Pima College. Posey posted a 30-24 record in five seasons, and led the Blue Devils to three state playoff appearances.
Prior to taking over Nogales in 2014, Kuhm spent two seasons at Rio Rico, where he led the Hawks to their first state playoff appearance. Kuhm involved the community at Rio Rico and Nogales, and said he hopes to do the same with Sunnyside.
“Our goal is going to be to win, and win as quickly as possible,” Kuhm said. “The sooner we can get parents, players, staff members, community members buying into our system, the quicker we’ll win.”
There was mutual interest in the opening after Posey stepped down last month, Kuhm said. Ultimately, the coach decided Sunnyside was a place he could stay long term.
“I don’t want to make a move and, in two years, look for another job,” Kuhm said.
Kuhm inherits a program with a rich history and an established winning tradition. Richard Sanchez led the Blue Devils to state championships in 2001 and 2003.
The Blue Devils qualified for the Division II state playoffs in each of the last two years, but graduate more than 30 seniors. Sunnyside is moving up to the state’s highest classification, but Kuhm said his vision still remains the same.
“That’s the goal: to try to keep it as one of the top programs in Southern Arizona and try to get back to the glory days as one of the top programs in the state,” said Kuhm, who has also served as an assistant at Rincon and Pima College. “The biggest challenge now is just stepping into a place like Sunnyside, with such great tradition, and being able to continue that tradition while putting my own stamp on the program.”
