On Friday afternoon, Edinburg CISD announced they’ll be looking for a new head coach after the departure of head coach Ernie Alonzo.

Who are some candidates we’d reach out to if we were Edinburg CISD athletic director Oscar Salinas?

Names listed below are in alphabetical order

Jody Cantu, HC Mission: Cantu has four seasons of head coaching experience, but spread out over time since 2010. He led Pearsall in 2010 before two solid seasons at Dilley in 2012 and 2013. After a long stint as an assistant coach in Edinburg CISD, most recently as Vela’s defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, he was named head coach at Mission last spring. Cantu posted a 4-7 record in his first season at the helm and a return to familiar stomping grounds could be a play for ECISD.

Sean Landez, DC Edinburg Vela: If you are going with the internal candidate, Landez is likely the guy Edinburg CISD would turn to as Vela transitions. Landez is a native of the area having played at Mission Sharyland and collegiately at Texas A&M-Kingsville. At this late juncture an internal hire is certainly a possibility, but Landez is relatively inexperienced. Soes that influence the decision in a good or bad way?

Will Littleton, HC Raymondville: Littleton comes from a coaching family as he worked under his father Bill Littleton at McAllen Memorial before authoring an amazing turnaround in four seasons at PSJA Memorial. Littleton then went over to 3A Raymondville last offseason and led the Bearkats to a 10-1 record and a district title in his first season at the helm.

Marco Regalado, RB Coach UT-Rio Grande Valley: If Edinburg CISD wants to swing big for one of the Valley’s premier jobs, a call to UTRGV RB Coach Marco Regalado could be intriguing. Regalado made his name originally as a high school coach with stops at Kingsville Academy, PSJA Memorial and Haslet Eaton before jumping into the college game in personnel roles at Washington State and Rice. He transitioned to an on-field role under Travis Bush as UTRGV started the program up. The Vaqueros had an incredible debut at the FCS level in 2025 and Regalado’s running back room was a big part of that move.

Jamaar Taylor, HC McAllen Rowe: Taylor, a legend in the Rio Grande Valley who played at Texas A&M and in the NFL has carved out a solid career as an offensive coordinator in the Valley with stops at PSJA, Weslaco East and Edinburg Vela. He was named head coach at McAllen Rowe in January 2025 and posted a 4-6 record in his first season. Much like Cantu at Mission, Vela could go the route of former assistant coach who is now a head coach in the area.