Approval before the school board on Thursday
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – Out with the old and in with the MacNeil.
The Safford School District is set to announce its new football coach, Ishmael MacNeil, pending approval from the school board during its monthly meeting on Thursday night. In addition to being the head football coach, MacNeil will also serve as a science teacher at the school.
MacNeil previously spent the last five years at Wickenburg High School as a physical education and biology teacher and has headed the football team there for the past three seasons. After going 2-8 in his first year, his teams improved each year to 5-5 in his second year and 7-4 last year for a combined 14-17 record.
MacNeil replaces Bob Park, who has been the coach since the 2021/22 season. Park finished with an 18-24 record and failed to make the playoffs in the last two seasons. Park also retired from being a physical education teacher at Safford Middle School effective May 23.
The Safford School Board will meet Thursday, April 10, in the Gail Curtis Boardroom of the Safford Schools District Offices at 734 W. 11th St., starting at 7 p.m.
