Hamilton leaves Grandes because of time commitment

EDINBURG — Former Rio Grande Valley Grandes coach Gary Hamilton said the reason he resigned from his duties had nothing to do with the team’s 0-4 start.

In reality, Hamilton coached the Grandes in only one match this season, a 5-1 loss to the Laredo Heat on May 6. After that match, Hamilton left to England for personal reason. Upon his return the Valley, Hamilton decided he had taken on too much of a commitment. The Grandes immediately named midfielder David Oteo the permanent coach.

Hamilton runs various youth academies and programs in McAllen and thought that would get in the way later in the summer.

“The trials were a little bigger than expected,” Hamilton said. “I thought rather than prolong the situation I spoke with the Grandes organization and said I just did not have enough time for it.”

Grandes general manager Zeke Morales said Hamilton was up front with the organization.

“We knew that we didn’t have a very good game in Laredo,” Morales said. “We knew he had been a little busy with his academy and had things going. … I guess we knew from the start that it was going to be a tough commitment from his part.”

Hamilton serves as the executive director of the McAllen Youth Soccer Association and is the head coach of the Dynamo South Texas Academy. Last October he was a subject of a small grassroots campaign to name him manager of the second-division Middlesbrough club that he played for from 1983-1992.

Hamilton said he does not rule a return to coaching at a higher level but that now was not the time.

The Grandes have turned to Oteo to take the helm of the team. Oteo, who has Mexican national and professional experience, will serve as the player/coach.

“For the team administration, it probably was (a surprise),” Oteo said about Hamilton’s resignation in Spanish. “The decision was made by the team management to look for someone ideal to lead the team. Since I have 18 years of professional experience, they offered me the job.”

Oteo said he has no plans to step down as a player, adding that he joined the team to play.

“I have been with all these guys since the beginning,” Oteo said. “They know me and I know them.”

Forward Alphonso Cavazos said the change from Hamilton and Oteo was not drastic and that the team has accepted Oteo.

“(Oteo) is doing a very good job,” Cavazos said. “He helps with us with his experience. He helps all the lines from the goalkeeper to the forwards.”

Peter Rasmussen covers sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448.