Hays CISD didn’t have to look far to find the next varsity head girls soccer coach for Lehman High.
Last week, Hays CISD officially named Michael Banning, current assistant football and girls soccer coach, as the school’s next head coach for the girls varsity soccer team.
But as one person was hired to fill a vacant spot, two more coaches announced their departures.
Chris Armatta and Brian Hempel, who have been coaches at Lehman High for several years, both announced they will depart for another campus in 2017.
Banning, who was hired at Hays CISD in 2009, takes the role of head girls soccer coach following the stepping down of Nauri Garcia in late May.
Banning becomes only the second person to take the helm of the Lehman girls soccer program.
Banning, a Bowie High alumnus who played soccer at the varsity level, said he was humbled and excited for the chance to take over as the head coach of the varsity team on an interim basis.
Having worked as the girls soccer team’s junior varsity coach, Banning said familiarity with the program will help students understand what he expects of them during the season.
“I think Garcia and myself were hoping I would be the one to keep the foundation of what we built,” Banning said. “He and I have worked closely to get this program to be one of the top programs in Central Texas. He was a big brother to me and a mentor that I looked up to.
Meanwhile, Hempel, who is Lehman’s girls head golf coach and assistant football coach, will depart for Bowie High next fall.
In a letter to the Hays Free Press, Hempel said he accepted a position as a football coach and teacher at Bowie. Hempel, who was hired by Hays CISD in 2005, was the longest serving football coach on the Lobo staff, having served 12 years at the campus.
Hempel was one of approximately 70-plus applicants who vied for the Lehman High head coaching position following the departure of Todd Raymond to Pflugerville ISD.
Hempel said he will always “love LHS, our feeder schools, teachers and coaches.”
“I am very proud of the work we have done here together,” Hempel said in a letter to parents and students. “Our kids and community need dedicated, passionate leaders in their lives who help make them more powerful people.”
Hempel said Lehman will “forever be a piece of who I am” and that he couldn’t be more grateful.
“I leave with an overwhelming sense of pride and joy, taking with me only faith, hope and love,” Hempel wrote. “The things that you and our kids gave to me on our long walk together.”
Armatta, who currently serves as an assistant football and soccer coach, announced via social media Monday he had accepted a position at McNeil High in Round Rock.
Armatta said it was a “sad but happy day” for him to announce the news.
“All my boys will be missed dearly, but I will always be there for you if you need me,” Armatta said.
