After a season marked by conflicts with parents and a last-place finish in Western League play, Point Loma High’s head varsity baseball coach has been removed from his position.
Jeff Solis (above), who began in the Pointer baseball program as a freshman and junior varsity head coach, later was named to replace former major leaguer David Wells in Sept. 2018. Now Solis has turned in his keys while the head coach position is currently posted by the San Diego Unified School District according to Manny Diaz Jr., the school’s athletic director.
A group of parents had planned to air their grievances with Principal Kelly Lowry, however, Lowry immediately left soon after graduation to report to his new position.
While the selection process for a new PLHS principal moves forward, former Scripps Ranch principal Ana Menna was assigned as interim principal. Being new to the situation and having a completely neutral position, Menna agreed to meet with these parents. After hearing their input, Menna determined that Solis should be replaced.
Diaz noted that while Solis was released the school also decided to temporarily remove all coaches in the baseball program at the varsity, junior varsity, and freshman levels.
“By doing this, each current coach can re-apply for the level and position they would like to coach,” Diaz said. “And members of the school staff and community can also apply for positions in our baseball program.”
The new head may bring other coaches with him, something that is common nowadays when most coaches are not school staff members.
Solis was certainly not without success during his five years at the varsity helm.
His first three teams (2019-2021) went 50-21-2, a winning percentage of .704. After a COVID-limited season in 2020, his 2021 team went to a CIF championship game where they lost 3-2 on a walk-off hit. He won league championships in 2019 with a record of 24-6-2 in his first season and again in 2021 (20-14).
But the two most recent seasons saw the Pointers slip to records of 9-18-1 in 2022 and 14-17-1, a winning percentage of .397 and landing them in the Western League’s basement.
Solis played at University of Northern Colorado before becoming an infield instructor there. He later worked as a varsity assistant in Fort Collins, Colo. before moving to California in 1994. After time at a baseball camp in Del Mar, he took the freshman head coaching job at PLHS.
PLHS PRINCIPAL SEARCH
Interviews were held last week between community and staff members and the finalists for the position. The new principal’s name should be known soon.
