Aaron Solis has been named to replace retiring Abe Jahadhmy as the athletic director at San Marcos High, the school announced Thursday.
Jahadhmy, who will retire in January after 35 years at San Marcos, has served as the school’s athletic director since 2004. He was the boys soccer coach from 1989 to 2002 and guided the Royals to a CIF-SS Division 2 championship in 1998.
“We are extremely proud of our athletic program at San Marcos and appreciate the outstanding leadership that Coach Jahadhmy has provided for so many years,” said Principal Dare Holdren, who was a student athlete at San Marcos during Jahadhmy’s tenure. “We are very excited to have Coach Solis take the reins and know he will do an outstanding job. He has a wealth of experience, cares deeply for the kids, and will be a fantastic resource for our coaches and families.”
Solis has been involved in athletics and student activities at San Marcos since 1991. He has been a head coach and an assistant for a variety of teams at all levels. His varsity teams in girls golf, girls basketball and boys golf won CIF-SS Academic Team Championships. Overall, the teams he coached captured 10 Channel League championships (9 for boys golf, one for girls golf), five CIF-SS divisional championships and two CIF-SS titles in boys golf.
He has worked with the CIF-Southern Section as a member of the Activities Director Committee and the Golf Committee, and has organized and directed CIF-SS Golf Championship events since 2007.
Locally, he’s assisted longtime Santa Barbara High girls basketball coach Andrew Butcher in running the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions since 2000.
In the classroom, Solis has taught a variety of subjects, including math, social science, video production, and leadership. He has been the Activities Director and ASB advisor since 2004.
“Aaron is through and through a Royal,” said Jahadhmy. “He is dedicated, cares very deeply for the students and the school community, and will work hard to maintain and improve the standards we set for our athletic department. He is doing this job with the best interest of the kids at heart.”
Solis calls San Marcos his second home.
“I look forward to leading our incredible student athletes and continuing the amazing work Coach Jahadhmy has produced over the past years,” he said. “Abe has been a wonderful mentor to me and I will be calling on him often for advice.”
He feels well prepared to take on the big job.
“I have been influenced by so many amazing Royals I can not name them all. But a special note of gratitude needs to go out to former coach Ken Nedler who first hired me and has been a friend and mentor, as well as Coach Butcher whose advice, mentorship, and friendship have all been invaluable,” he said.
Solis also thanked CIF-SS Commissioner Rob Wigod for his leadership and encouragement in helping him take on his new role as the leader of San Marcos athletics.
“I am excited to work with Principal Dare Holdren, Assistant Principal Dr. Analese Alvarez, the entire San Marcos staff, Athletic Boosters, Alumni Association, PTSA, and the Royal Pride Foundation to continue the academic and athletic excellence here at San Marcos,” said Solis.