Craig Daily Press

Craig — The Moffat County High School fall sports season is around the corner.

Practices begin Aug. 11 for each of the six fall sports teams: football, volleyball, boys golf, rodeo, cross country and boys soccer.

But, unlike the five other sports mentioned, the soccer team has a hole when it comes to the team roster.

And, the hole is at the top.

As of Thursday, the team had yet to announce the hiring of an assistant coach to join Rusty Cox — hired more than two months ago by MCHS to replace Seth Young as head coach — on the sideline.

The season is 10 days away, but despite the number approaching single digits, Cox said he isn’t worried.

“Not really,” he said when asked whether there was an urgency to find an assistant. “I’ve never had an assistant before.”

Cox said he hasn’t spoken to new MCHS Athletic Director Rick Penner and hasn’t been contacted by the high school since his formal hiring nearly three months ago.

“I haven’t received a phone call or (anything),” Cox said. “It’s a little irritating, but I’m sure they’ll contact me at the last second, and I’ll put everything together and run with it.

“What other choice do I have?”

So he has no assistant, no schedule and no idea of his team’s allotment of funds in the MCHS athletic budget — in his first season at the helm.

“I’m just hanging in there and seeing what happens,” Cox said. “There’s nothing I can do right now.”

MCHS administration returns from summer vacation Monday.

Penner was unavailable for comment.

The girls team — which doesn’t begin play until the spring of 2009 — is in a similar situation, despite having more time to sort out the ranks.

Dave Rodriguez was named assistant, but a head coach has yet to be determined.

Both Cox and Rodriguez come from winning programs at the U-14 level, Cox at the helm of the Craig boys team and Rodriguez leading the Craig girls squad.

Last season, Alegra Yager led the MCHS girls program and Seth Young the boys, with each the other’s assistant.

Cox said the move from assistant at one program, to head at the other, wouldn’t happen between he and Rodriquez.

“I can’t do it in the spring,” Cox said. “There is a lot of time involved. I won’t be able to do that twice a year.”

So the question still remains.