South El Monte HC Ibis Aguilar is out at South El Monte
By Tim Peterson
(South El Monte) – Ibis Aguilar was let go as the head coach at South El Monte Monday. “I didn’t step down. They brought me into the office and released me today. They didn’t give me a reason. They just said I was released and they were going to post the opening on the CIF website. The whole thing took like ten seconds,” Aguilar said.
In four years at the Eagles helm Aguilar went 19-24. This past year South El Monte went 3-7 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.
In 2011, Aguilar’s first season, South finished 7-4 overall and lost to Covina in the first round of the playoffs. The Eagles followed up with what was considered Aguilar’s best year. South El Monte shared the Mission Valley League title with El Monte, (although the Eagles beat the Lions head to head) and they went 7-5 on the year and won a playoff game. The Eagles knocked off Covina in the first round before falling to Monrovia in the second.
In the last two years South went 5-15 overall.
Last year before the season started, Aguilar was pink slipped as a teacher but was advised there would be substitute opportunities available. The last two years he has been strictly a walk on head coach.
“It’s been tough as a walk on. Also their have been four principals in the last four years so it makes it tough to establish a relationship. It’s been a revolving door there,” Aguilar said.
Aguilar is now looking to the future and definitely has plans to coach again. “I want to find a teaching job or a PE job that is full time with benefits. And I’d like to coach at the same time. I’ll be all right,” said Aguilar.
Aguilar also sees a bright future for South El Monte football.
“They have nine returning starters coming back. I think they’re going to be really good next year. I wish them nothing but the best,” Aguilar added.
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