Zak Hill steps down as Saguaro football coach to join ALA Gilbert North

Zak Hill has stepped down as head football coach at Scottsdale Saguaro to become an administrator at American Leadership Academy Gilbert North.

Hill said he notified his players on Monday morning about the move.

Saguaro Athletic Director Matt Harris said that Mark Martinez will serve as interim head coach. Martinez has been offensive line coach at Saguaro, where he has served as an assistant coach for 11 seasons and was part of the school’s last eight state championships teams, including the 2021 Open title.

“We are appreciative of everything Zak Hill has done this past year for our student-athletes and football program at Saguaro,” Harris said in a text message. “While we certainly would have liked his tenure to last longer, we understand that a promotion to an administrative role at his former school close to home was what is best for his family.”

In his only season as head coach, Hill led Saguaro to the 2023 6A state championship, after a season filled with injuries that derailed the team playing one of the toughest schedules in the state.

The Sabercats didn’t make the Open for the first time, but got it together in time to make a four-game playoff run that culminated with a dominant performance over Mesa Red Mountain in the 6A championship game.

Saguaro head coach Zak Hill yells out to his team as they take on Red Mountain during their 6A State Championship game at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Dec. 2, 2023.

Hill said he will be part of the athletic director duties with Jeff Oliverson, who left ALA Queen Creek to become that AD. Hill said will also help out Ty Detmer, who left ALA Queen Creek as head football coach to lead the ALA Gilbert North football program.

Hill said ALA Gilbert North is much closer to home for him. He said it was a 40-minute drive to Saguaro High School in Scottsdale.

“A lot of reasons,”…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/zak-hill-steps-down-saguaro-161840081.html

Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic

Publish date : 2024-02-12 16:18:40

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.