5 thoughts on “New San Marcos AD: Academics trumps athletics”

1. Sounds like a good hire. I look forward to seeing what kinds of success he can bring to San Marcos, both athletically and academically.

2. So our actual hire *was* someone who hadn’t applied prior to the Board extending the hiring process. I wonder if that will make a difference to those who were screaming so loudly against the idea of the extension?

3. Great to hear an Athletic Director talking about the importance of academics. The vast majority of high school athletes have virtually no chance of someday making a living as athletes, which means they still need to make the grades if they hope for any kind of future.

   Texas does seem to suffer from an Athletics Uber Alles mindset, so this is refreshing indeed. Here’s wishing Mark Soto the best of luck in his new post.

4. Not to throw water on anyone, because I really hope this emphasis is true (and it would be if WE actually cared more about academics than athletics…but I could say the same thing when it comes to politics and economics compared to the bread and circuses that increasingly occupy our cultural mindset), but having seen the up and down sides of plenty of AD hires during my educational career it has been my experience that a new coach claiming to be all about academics is akin to a politician claiming to be all about lowering taxes or supporting families…in others words it is one of those obligatory niceties that pretty much everyone says, but whether or not it is true or not very much remains to be seen…that said, I’ll keep my fingers crossed that we have found an exception to the rule of athletic obsession…

5. @ Keith you will see that Mark Soto is all about the well rounded student. Coach Soto not only talks the talk but he walks the walk, and emphasizes the importance of education.

   http://www.smcisd.net/news.cfm?story=1482

   A graduate of Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, Soto made the Dean’s List while earning a Bachelor of Science Physical Education degree. He received an institutional scholarship to play football, and was listed in “Who’s Who Among College Students” among numerous other collegiate recognitions. He has felt the need to raise academics among the student athletes in his charge. While at Judson, Soto is proud to have installed tutorial programs that helped raise all Judson athletes to an average 88 GPA and improved TAKS scores. He’s been instrumental in helping high school athletes receive placement in colleges such as Duke, Baylor, Rice, and West Point—averaging seven per year.