New West Hills College Athletic Director focuses on success

 “My number one goal is to maintain the quality and high standards that the athletic directors before me had,” Arce said. “The table is set so I’m just trying to build on what they established. I’m excited about it.”

 Arce, who has worked as a coach, teacher and counselor at West Hills College Coalinga for the past 15 years, took over the position of athletic director on July 1.  Former athletic director Mark Gritton is now focusing solely on state-wide success and equity initiatives for the college as the Associate Dean of Student Services.

 Dr. Carole Goldsmith, WHCC President, said Arce was a natural choice to succeed Gritton.

 “Mark has a wealth of knowledge regarding athletics and he knows the communities of Firebaugh, Huron, Coalinga and Avenal well,” she said. “In addition to being a great coach, Mark really has a great appreciation for athletics and what it can do for the educational environment for our young men and women.”

 Arce has served as the school’s basketball coach for nearly 15 years and also previously served as interim athletic director for six months when Gritton took time off to coach the WHCC football team.

 He regularly teaches health and physical education classes at WHCC and North District Center, Firebaugh and also served as an academic counselor at WHCC for five years.

 One of Arce’s big goals for his new position is to increase the fundraising the athletic department does, including hosting the beer garden for the CoalingaFest street fair and holding a cow plop contest and family day during the annual Horned Toad Derby weekend.

 Other goals include growing the WHCC athletics booster club and expanding the annual athletics Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony.

 “I’ve been fortunate here at West Hills to be able to go from a counselor to a health and physical education teacher and now to this,” he said. “I was ready for a change and I’m excited for the new challenge.”