By Santa Barbara Unified School District
San Marcos High School Athletic Director Abe Jahadhmy retired [on January 20] after 35 years at the school.
Jahadhmy started coaching soccer at San Marcos in 1987. He led the soccer team for 14 years, winning five Channel League Championships and a CIF Championship in 1998. He was inducted into the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Hall of Fame in 2019.
Jahadhmy took over as Athletic Director in 2004 from Bob Archer. In his 19-year tenure at San Marcos, he oversaw fundraising drives that resulted in many facility improvements. Among them are a turf field in the stadium, track renovation, sand volleyball courts, baseball batting cages, and other improvements. Jahadhmy credits the parents for their support.
“I have had a blessed career and would like to thank all the students, coaches, staff, and parents that have been part of my life,” said Jahadhmy
“Coach Jahadhmy has done an absolutely fantastic job as the Athletic Director. He’s always had the best interests of students at heart. Jahadhmy served as a mentor and role model to multiple generations of students. He is also one of the most trustworthy, kindhearted people you will ever meet. I will miss him dearly and thank him for his years of service”, said Principal Dare Holdren
Long-time Coach and Activities Director Aaron Solis will assume the Athletic Director position. Coach Solis started his coaching career at San Marcos in 1991. He has served as the Head Varsity Coach for Girls Basketball, Girls Golf, and Boys Golf, as well as being a Junior Varsity, Freshman, and assistant coach for multiple sports. Solis has also served as a basketball official and a member of the CIF-SS Golf and Activities Director committees.
“Aaron has done an outstanding job in his many roles for many years, and we are fortunate to have him as our new Athletic Director. He loves working with kids and families. Aaron will continue to build on the tradition of outstanding athletic teams at San Marcos. His emphasis on teamwork, academics first, and doing things the right way aligns perfectly with our values at San Marcos,” said Holdren.
It should never be bitter rivalry. Intense rivalry, maybe, but not bitter. Sportsmanship has gone way downhill, just like politics, thanks to that attitude.
Thanks for that advice Mr. or Mrs. Nitpicky and non-athlete.
See? Prime example. Too bad you didn’t learn the coach’s lesson. Or how to thread a reply.
Okay, first off, props to Abe. I can’t emphasize enough what a wonderful human he is. Abe deserves a spectacular retirement and will be sorely missed in the SMHS community.
Second, of course rivalries are bitter. Ask any serious athlete how they motivate themselves to play at the highest intensity when they need to. Ask Jerry West about his time playing the Celtics in the 60s and how he had to have the color green removed from his house because he wanted to throw up every time he saw it. I’m just going to assume A-1675911524 is intentionally being argumentative because I can’t believe anyone is that naïve.
See? True sportsmanship is dead.
GC_Headley: Most of us, 99.999999 percent that is, interpret your comment as intended. The last sentence of your comment is most likely correct…..or correct in my opinion. Thank you for the kind words about Abe as we appreciate being appreciated!
You should look up the primary definition of bitter. Intense rivalry is fine, but bitterness has no place. Language has nuances, you know.
12:09 – sounds like you are just trying to nitpick and argue over semantics. The definition of “bitter” sums up the feelings of the losing team in a big game so yeah, it’s a bitter rivalry. Point made.
No one should feel bitter about losing, as long as they’ve put forth their best effort. It should, instead, inspire attempts to improve.
Sounds like you’re pretty bitter about the whole thing. Lots more to worry about or enjoy than an adjective that is at best, slightly off from its intended meaning. Have a great day 🙂