Mission CISD athletic director announces retirement

After 40 years in education, the last nine as MCISD’s athletic director, Joe Sanchez has informed district officials he plans to retire at the end of the school year.

A 1972 graduate of Rio Grande City High School, Sanchez started his career in Alpine ISD as a junior high school math teacher. In an MCISD press release Sanchez said even then he knew he wanted to become an athletic director.  Following teaching stints at Sul Ross State University, McAllen High School, PSJA High School, Hidalgo High School and then PSJA Memorial High School, in January 2008 he fulfilled his dream with CISD.

Joe Sanchez Mission CISD athletic director

Looking back now on his career Sanchez said he leaves his AD post proud of his accomplishments.

“That has included everything from tracks and turf, to scoreboards, new field houses for Mission High School and Veteran’s Memorial High School, to the renovation of Tom Landry Stadium that is about to begin,” Sanchez said.

After retiring Sanchez said he plans to tackle lots of personal projects and spend time hunting, fishing and spending more time with his family, especially his grandchildren, he said.

Sanchez said he plans to keep tabs on MCISD teams and will occasionally be among the faces in the stand cheering on the student athletes of his longtime home and professional home of MCISD.