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PHARR - Tracy Hamilton has faced a lot of challenges before in his coaching career.

What he faces at Valley View, however, could be something different.

At a special meeting of the Valley View ISD Board of Trustees, Hamilton was hired to be the Tigers' coach and high school athletic director and given a one-year contract. Hamilton, who was the offensive line coach at Edcouch-Elsa, replaces David Evans. Evans was reassigned after going 1-19 in his two seasons at Valley View, including 0-10 in 2008.

Hamilton was chosen in a unanimous vote instead of the other two finalists: former Mission High coach Tom Lee and Mission defensive coordinator Tony Hinsley. In Hamilton, Valley View is getting a coach that has spent time as both a head coach and assistant, having spent time at Ingleside and Robbstown.

And after being at Edcouch-Elsa, Hamilton has seen the struggles of the Tigers, a team which has only one win. Of course, having coached at E-E, he remembered that that one win was a 7-6 upset of Mercedes, the Yellowjackets' fiercest rival.

Now, though, Hamilton's challenge is to make victories like that more frequent, and not quite as surprising.

"I was very impressed with the people and the school board and all the people at Valley View. They made me feel welcome," Hamilton said. "I've never backed down from challenges. When I came down to Edcouch-Elsa that was a challenge. It's going to be a challenge. A big, uphill challenge."

One of the biggest obstacles Hamilton faces in building the Tigers' program is establishing something of a football culture at the school. Though Valley View has been successful in other sports, especially boys' soccer, the school lacks any football tradition.

Evans, when he was reassigned, said that was especially challenging and difficult to overcome.

E-E coach and Hamilton's former employer Joe Solis recognizes how tough that will be for Hamilton, but has confidence that his former assistant can build the program.

"It is a big challenge going in there trying to get that program turned around," Solis said. "If they work with him and help him out and everything else, that's something that could really help the program.

"He knows football and is very supportive of all the other sports. I feel he's going to do a good job and I wish the best for him."

Hamilton, who will be the third head coach in four varsity seasons for Valley View, might need all the well-wishes he can get. Though the Tigers had high expectations to build off their upset win over Mercedes in 2007, they struggled in 2008.

Now it's up to Hamilton to make sure 2009 isn't quite the same.

"I'm going there to win. We're going to take it one step at a time," Hamilton said. "I'm going to evaluate coaches from all sports, not just football. We're going to try to get things turned around."

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