Bay City Tribune

Just a year after hiring who they though would be a long-term addition to Blackcat athletics, athletic director and head football coach Dan Edelman accepted a job with Arlington ISD and the Bay City school district is back in the search for a new coach.

Arlington ISD hired Edelman as the new Sam Houston High School head football coach Friday afternoon, said Arlington ISD Director of Public Information Veronica V. Sopher.

The sudden resignation comes in the middle of a search for a new superintendent to replace BCISD Superintendent Richard Walton, who recently announced his retirement. Edelman, who signed a standard two-year contract, was expected to coach at Bay City for much longer than a year.

“We’re disappointed. He came in and did all the things he said he was going to do, except he said he was going to stay for a while. We were under the imp-ression he was here for the long run,” said Walton.

Edelman called Walton on Friday to say he’d accepted the position at Arlington. Walton will meet with Edelman Wednesday morning to discuss the timeframe for the coach’s exit.

“We don’t know how long it will take. It’s a long, drawn out process, but the kids are devastated. They deserve to have someone in quickly to get everything back on track,” Walton said.

“I’m sure he’ll leave as quickly as possible. He’s thinking about building a program in Arlington. He’ll get out of here as quick as he can.”

In the meantime, assistant football and head track coach Robert Blackmon will take over duties as interim athletic director until a replacement is hired.

“It could be as soon as two weeks and probably no later than four weeks. That’s just my general feeling. It’s a dadgum mess is what it is,” Walton said.

Arlington-Seguin and Arlington-Sam Houston were both in the hunt for new coaches and both were hired Friday. Edelman will replace George McFarland after the Sam Houston Texans went 0-9 last season.

“This program has been successful in the past, so it’s just a matter of polishing that tradition and getting things going in the right direction,” Edelman told the Forth Worth Star-Telegram about Sam Houston High School.

Edelman was not available for comment.