Alejandro Chavez Returns to Abilene to Lead Cooper Girls’ Soccer Program

Abilene ISD Executive Director of Athletics Jim Garfield announced July 6 that the district hired Alejandro Chavez as the next head coach of the Cooper High School girls’ soccer program.

Chavez spent the last three seasons as the head coach of the men’s soccer program at Hobbs (New Mexico) High School, where he led the Eagles to a combined 41-11-1 record and three straight District 4-5A championships (17-1 combined district record in those three seasons).

“I’m excited about my future at Cooper High School and grateful to become the next head coach of the girls’ program,” Chavez said. “The success of these student-students matters the most, so I’ll push them daily to be their best. We will work hard in the off-season to be ready when the season comes.”

Chavez is a December 2018 graduate of McMurry University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. He earned a master’s in Health and Human Performance from the University of the Southwest in Hobbs in December 2020.

While at McMurry, Chavez was the captain of the Warhawks’ team as a senior in the fall of 2017 when he helped McMurry to a record of 8-6-3, the program’s most wins in a season since 2011. During that season, he allowed just nine goals in 16 games and saved 69 shot attempts. He collected shutouts in all eight McMurry matches and a shutout in a 0-0 tie. 

He was the team MVP as a senior, and in 2017-18 he won the Bill Libby Award as the top Male Athlete of the Year at McMurry as a senior.

As a coach, Chavez was an intern and assistant coach at Abilene High in 2017-18 and was an assistant coach/goalkeeper coach in 2018-19 at McMurry. He also served as a substitute teacher in the AISD in the spring of 2019.

Before becoming the head coach at Hobbs, he served as the assistant coach and goalkeeper coach in 2019-20.

“Coach Chavez is all gas and no brakes,” Garfield said of the district’s newest head coach. “His energy and passion for the game of soccer stood out during the interview process. He will bring energy and knowledge of soccer to the Cooper girls’ soccer program. We’re very excited to welcome him to the AISD family.”