Two new head coaches have been hired this week, both connected with the fall 2009 opening of Cleveland High School.

Amanda Stout, a 2001 grad-uate of Moriarty High School and later of New Mexico State University, has been hired to coach girls soccer for the Storm, while Sal Gonzales, a cross country and track and field coach at Pecos High, has been named to coach those boys sports at Rio Rancho High School.

Stout, who had been an assistant coach at Mayfield High, will coach a freshman girls team at the Mid-High this fall and that team will form the basis for the varsity team when it debuts in 2009. Rio Rancho Public Schools athletic director Bruce Carver said there were three applicants for the position and two were interviewed. Ashley Britt was the other finalist for the position.

“Amanda is a very confident young lady who has a lot of passion for soccer,” Carver said. “She’s very enthusiastic.”

Gonzales will replace Larry Chavez, who coached cross country and track and field at RRHS since it opened. This spring, Chavez announced he was retiring from his job with the Rams and has since been hired to coach boys cross country and boys track and field teams at CHS in 2009.

Carver said there were four applicants and three finalists for the CHS position. Aaron Sanchez and Jonathan Ball were the other finalists.

“He really impressed our socks off in the interview and he’s a great teacher,” Carver said. “(Gonzales) will fit in well at RRHS. He’s a very spirited guy, impassioned about running. I think when you’re at a small school it can make you a better coach. You have to be a great organizer, and his experience at Pecos is invaluable. His 10 years of experience is going to be really helpful.”

“I think he’ll do a good job,” Chavez said, familiar with Gonzales’ reputation.