Chavera named permanent BHC athletic director

Arnie ChaveraBlack Hawk College has named Arnie Chavera the college’s director of athletics and community recreation effective July 1, 2020.

“My goal is to afford our student-athletes every opportunity to succeed and perform at a high level in the classroom, as well as on the playing courts and fields,” he said.

One of Chavera’s first big projects will be establishing the college’s new men’s and women’s soccer programs. A generous gift to the college from two BHC alumni provided the seed money.

“We are launching both programs this fall so we can have head coaches in place to actively recruit student-athletes for each program,” he said. The two teams will begin competing in Fall 2021.

The addition of soccer means Chavera will oversee eight sports with a total of 140-150 student-athletes. The college currently has men’s and women’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s volleyball, women’s softball and men’s baseball with about 100 student-athletes.

He has a long list of goals as athletic director, including:

  • Maintaining and developing new community outreach projects (student-athletes volunteering)
  • Creating and establishing a strong academic success/retention plan for student-athletes
  • Focusing on and improving upon the student experience
  • Exploring opportunities to bring additional sports to Black Hawk College

Chavera has been the college’s interim athletic director since July 1, 2019, providing support for community recreation while also continuing to serve as the college’s head baseball coach.

He will step down from his coaching duties June 30. Chavera became the Braves’ head coach in Fall 2004 and is the all-time winningest Black Hawk College baseball coach.

Deciding to move from coach to full-time athletic director wasn’t easy.

“Stepping away from baseball after 16 years at BHC was a difficult decision, but being an administrator only is what’s best for the Athletic Department, the baseball program, and my family,” he said.

“I want to thank all of my current and former players for 16 great years of competition. I am thankful for their commitment to college and to this program.”

Chavera will miss the relationships he created as a coach.

“I hope that I was able to make a worthwhile impact on each and every baseball player I coached over the years. It is great to see so many turn into outstanding husbands and fathers.”

Now Chavera hopes to have a positive impact on all BHC student-athletes.

“I am eager to begin this new chapter in my life and am looking forward to the challenge.”

 

BACKGROUND

In 2018, Arnie Chavera was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region IV Hall of Fame.

Chavera finishes his 16-year baseball coaching career at Black Hawk College with 490 wins. He will continue to serve as the baseball chair for NJCAA Region IV and the Arrowhead Athletic Conference.

A product of the NJCAA, Chavera was a student-athlete at Navarro College in Corsicana, TX. After playing one year at Dallas Baptist University, he signed with the Houston Astros organization and played in the minor leagues for five seasons, two of those with the Quad Cities River Bandits.