The roles of a father and son who were involved in the Santa Ynez Valley High School football program for decades, and whose impact lives on today, may be memorialized with the naming of the school’s football field in their honor.

The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District board will consider the proposal to recognize the roles of Jeff Rio and his father, Carl Rio, during a meeting set to start at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the boardroom on campus.

The agenda includes a resolution for the naming of the field after current Pirates varsity football coach and physical education teacher Josh McClurg pushed for the designation during the April 18 meeting.

The suggestion drew strong support amid other comments on other extremely contentious topics.

Jeff Rio, a former Pirate and 1989 graduate, began working for the district’s maintenance department and became an assistant junior varsity coach before moving to varsity assistant.

“Looking back on it, being coached by Jeff changed the direction of my life. He was a tough-love coach who brought so much enthusiasm, inspiration and motivation, and true caring for his players,” McClurg, “a proud Pirate alum,” told the board. 

The resolution for the naming the field notes the Rio men “had huge hearts and are best known for helping others. They made significant contributions to the Pirate community, taking care of players, coaches, and valley families.”

McClurg admitted to being a tough kid to coach, but said he clicked with Rio, and since has modeled his coaching style after Jeff Rio. 

Jeff Rio, who continued to coach through the 1995 season, died in a vehicle crash near Gaviota on a rainy morning on March 12, 1996. He was 24 years old.

His funeral occurred in the stadium.

“I think English teachers call this foreshadowing,” McClurg said, adding that more than 5,000 people attended the service.

As Carl Rio struggled with the loss of his son, the father, a long-time horse trainer and U.S. Postal Service worker, began helping with the football team under then-coach Ken Gruendyke. 

“He was the equipment man, part time athletic trainer, and a shoulder for the boys to lean on,” McClurg said. “He stayed late after every practice to talk to players who were having a hard time at home or were dealing with a break up.”

McClurg, hired in 2012, asked Carl Rio to remain, providing valuable help to the rookie coach whose first team went 1-9.

“He would stay late with me, sometimes until midnight after a bad loss, and let me vent, but then reassure me I was doing a good job. Carl would tell every coach and player he loved them, and he meant it,” McClurg said. 

As his health declined, doctors diagnosed Carl Rio with stage 4 prostate cancer that had spread through his body. 

McClurg recalled Rio relating that scans showed “‘it had my body lit up like an (expletive) Christmas tree with all the tumors,” McClurg said.

“And then he just laughed about it. That was just Carl. He always had the most optimistic point of view you’d ever seen,” McClurg said. 

Although he died in 2016, Carl Rio continues to have a presence as the football program adopted the mantra “Rio Strong” — “to fight like Carl.”

“It was the same year the players raised the money for our tunnel we run through and they put #66 on it in honor of Jeff Rio,” said McClurg, adding that Jeff Rio wore that number on his jersey, and it since has been unofficial retired.

Today, players learn about Jeff and Carl Rio, and they touch the Rio Rock by the weight room taking the field for practice and games.

A scholarship program started by the family in memory of Jeff Rio continues. 

And a key football booster fundraiser, the Rio Memorial Golf Tournament, will take place June 17 at the Alisal River Course in Solvang, with registration and sponsor information available here.

“Carl found solace being there with football after Jeff died. Now we have the chance to put their name on the field forever,” McClurg said, his voice choking with emotion.

“I found my passion for coaching and teaching because of Jeff Rio. I stayed coaching and teaching because of Carl Rio.”

Carl’s wife and Jeff’s mom, Mary Ellen Rio, gave the family’s blessings for the tribute, and was touched by McClurg’s presentation last month. 

“I hope Jeff and Carl are looking down and will think it’s an OK thing,” she said, adding they never wanted attention for their actions.

“They did it from their heart.”