Perry Graves Perry Graves was named as the new athletic director and head football coach for Riviera-Kaufer Independent School District during a regular board meeting held at the Margaret Main Library this past Wednesday. Graves replaces Arturo de la Rosa who has been the district’s athletic director and head football coach ever since he first assumed the role as an interim approximately four years ago when school trustees reassigned his predecessor Bobby August. De la Rosa will remain with the district solely as a Spanish Teacher.

Currently in his first year at RISD, Graves coached at

Palestine Westwood last year and has also made stops at Odem, Rankin and Gainesville where he received his first stint as an athletic director and head football coach back in 1988.

Graves said he was enthusiastic with his new position.

“I am very excited, I think there are many things we need to concentrate and improve on, not just football,” Graves said on Thursday. “I think we need to upgrade the girls’ programs and get them some help to try to bring it all up to the same level. The work is still here, we have a lot we need to do and we are going to continue to add on to what we started this year.”

News of De la Rosa’s decision to step down as AD was first revealed by RISD Superintendent Ernest Havner in a letter to the editor in the December 27, 2009 issue of the Kingsville Record.

Having posted the position within the district before the Christmas break, Havner recommended Graves at Wednesday’s meeting and the board - who accepted De la Rosa’s resignation moments earlier - approved the superintendent’s endorsement.

One reason Havner nominated Graves was because of the coach’s longevity in academics and athletics.

“Coach Graves has been a head coach for over 14 years at 3A, 2A, and 1A school districts,” Havner said. “He has coached and been in education for over 30 years.”

Graves’ track record as a defensive coordinator was another justification.

“At the beginning of this school year, our football team was ranked around 203 out of 206 schools in Class 2A and by Week Eight our defense was ranked 19th in the entire state of Texas,” Havner said. “So he has been very successful at every school he has been at.”

In regards to football, Graves said Kaufer’s blueprint will not change in 2010.

“What we ran this season offensively and defensively will not change next year,” Graves said. “It is the same system I have been running for years; a spread-offense and a spreadsix defense.”

Kaufer’s new AD anticipates the Seahawks will remain in the 2A ranks even after the University Interscholastic League realigns districts in February.

“I am sure we will stay right in there with Hebbronville, Banquete and Three Rivers,” Graves said. “There should not be much difference from what our schedule was last season and it should be extremely tough.”