Riviera ISD hires new Athletic Director
The Riviera Independent School District has a new face of its athletic programs, as the district announced the hiring of its newest Athletic Director this week.
Former H.M. King Head Soccer Coach and Texas A&M University-Kingsville alumnus Joe Barron was recently named the Athletic Director at the RISD, as he brings familiarity to a district he once called home.
Riviera ISD Superintendent Patricia Thornton said in a statement the district is ”serving and growing” some of the very best students in South Texas and hiring Barron is part of that plan to continue that tradition.
“Coaching is merely the vehicle he will be driving every day, but his integrity, intelligence, and his incredible passion for student growth will be what he executes as part of our District Plan to grow our students while having a positive impact in their daily lives,” Thornton said.
Barron joins the RISD with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Sciences and a Masters in Educational Leadership from TAMUK.
He coached as a graduate assistant, and later as a position coach for the Javelina football program while at the university for a total of seven years.
In 2013, Barron had the opportunity to serve as support staff, a strength and conditioning coach, assistant football coach, assistant track and field coach, head powerlifting coach and middle school basketball coach.
He then received the chance to be head soccer coach at H.M. King High School in the 2015-16 season, where he served for six years before making the decision to head back to Riviera.
While at HMK, he was also offensive coordinator for the football program for two years, and the special teams coordinator for four.
He also has served as a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes program at both H.M. King and TAMUK, and taught college foundation courses while at HMK.
Barron took to Facebook where he stated his excitement for his new opportunity, as well as his good-bye for his former home.
“My heart is heavy and filled with great emotion. My student athletes, teachers, staff, administrators and coaches are in my prayers and heart; as me and my family have been presented a great new opportunity at Riviera ISD,” Barron wrote. “Students, today my prayer is that those that stay with you, and are new in your life continue to give you their very best as (it’s) my heart's desire. This chapter that has been completed but never closed, started for me seven years ago when I was preparing to return to school to complete some unfinished business; however, God had different plans for me. It was then that a great offer came from Kingsville ISD for me to teach and coach.”
Barron continued by stating he had the greatest memories as a teacher and coach as part of KISD thanks to the “greatest kids that Kingsville has raised.”
“It is to you my students, teachers, staff, administrators, and coaches that I want to honor with my post. To my coaches, I want to say that the experiences, the triumphs and the defeats allowed us to grow and to learn from life. I will forever cherish our relationship and memories. Today, I am blessed to have worked with amazing professionals and have been mentored and guided by the best,” he continued. “To the Kingsville ISD family, thank you for the great opportunity and thank you for some of the greatest memories.”
