Clovis hires soccer coaches

Clovis High has filled its boys soccer positions with contract coaches, both of whom have been around the program for a while.

Greg Trujillo, 35, was named the head coach on Thursday to replace Shaun Gill, who left for Rio Rancho’s Cleveland High School. David Rael, 64, will be the junior varsity coach.

Neither has coached at the high school level before, although both have plenty of experience at various levels, CHS athletic director Brian Stacy said.

“Both have tremendous knowledge of soccer,” he said.

Trujillo said he has coached many of the current players on the squad at the AYSO and CYSA levels. He also played collegiately at College of the Southwest in Hobbs, as well as at the semipro level in Amarillo.

“I love the game,” Trujillo said. “That’s been my passion. I’ve played all my life.

“I want to teach the kids what I know. There are a lot of things as far as tactics and strategy.”

A native of Clovis, Trujillo said a knee injury at CSW curtailed his playing career. But he went on to play semipro soccer for three years.

“All I used to do was eat, dream and sleep soccer,” said Trujillo, who owns Trujillo Custom Cabinets in Clovis.

Stacy said he often talked with Trujillo at various soccer games, and was impressed with his knowledge before the position became open.

“When I talked to him and interviewed him, he had some great goals for the team,” Stacy said. “It just looks like it’s going to be a good fit.”

He said he’s known Rael since he was young. Rael said he has coached from youth level through adults, and coached Trujillo’s younger brother in junior soccer.

Born in Fort Sumner, Rael said he moved to Clovis at age 2. He said he was more than comfortable with the assistant’s role.

“I actually applied for the JV position,” he said. “But I said if they needed (a head coach), I would go for that.”

Gill compiled a 35-82-2 record in six seasons with the Wildcats, but led the program to a 28-30-2 mark over the last three seasons.