Alvarez approved as athletic director/head coach

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press

After a brief closed session on Friday afternoon, the Copperas Cove Independent School District board of trustees unanimously voted to approve Jack Alvarez as the new athletic director and head coach of the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs. 
Selected from a field of 51 applicants, Alvarez was approved by the school board a little less than two weeks after former AD/head coach Jack Welch’s retirement from CCISD took effect. 
Alvarez’ contract length is for two years, said Wendy Sledd, the district’s director of communications.
“The CCISD school board has not yet approved pay scales for the 2018-2019 school year,” Sledd added. “Upon receiving Coach Alvarez’ service records from his previous district, a salary will be determined for him based on his experience utilizing the 18/19 approved pay scales.” The district had listed a minimum annual salary of $81,030 for the position.
Alvarez comes to CCISD from the Ennis Independent School District, where he has been since 2011. Under his leadership, the 5A school won the 5A state championship in 2014 and has been a four-time district champion, state semi-finalist, and three-time bi-district finalist. His overall record is 165-74 and has a 60-25 record with the Ennis Lions. 
In his move to Copperas Cove, Alvarez will cross paths with a former colleague, CCISD superintendent Joe Burns, who served as superintendent of Kirbyville Consolidated Independent School District while Alvarez was AD/head coach at KCISD. Alvarez coached at Kirbyville from 2000-2010 and prior to Kirbyville, coached at West Sabine in 1998 and 1999.
Burns talked about his former colleague. 
“Coach Alvarez has a proven record of success  and a deep sense of responsibility for student athletes. Coach Alvarez will work diligently to ensure Copperas Cove is successful in every aspect of athletic competition and academics,” said Burns. “Coach Alvarez brings with him a wealth of knowledge, a strong work ethic and a firm, fair and consistent manner of dealing with students and staff. CCISD looks forward to an exciting future for the student athletes and the supporters of Bulldawg Athletics.”
Alvarez brings 20 years of coaching to Copperas Cove and is an Arkansas native, graduating from Henderson State University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. 
Alvarez’s wife, Kim, is a district level administrator at Ennis ISD. They have two sons, one of whom is the current defensive coordinator for Ennis and previously played on the 2014 state championship team. Alvarez spoke briefly after the meeting, naming his priorities of faith, family, and football – the three Fs, as he called them – in that order. 
In a statement released by the district immediately after the meeting, Alvarez said he looked forward to building a state championship caliber football program and to begin the next chapter of his coaching career.
“I have high expectations for not only the football program but all athletic programs and look forward to working with the students and staff at Copperas Cove ISD.”