Wall's Lombard Leaving Wall to Join Father at Canyon

WALL, TX -- For the first time in nearly a decade, Wall Lady Hawks basketball will have a new head coach.

Tate Lombard is departing the Concho Valley to become an assistant coach for his father Joe Lombard at Class 5A Canyon High School near Amarillo, as first reported by My High Plains. Lombard confirmed the report to San Angelo LIVE! Monday night.

Lombard is a graduate and former standout for Canyon and went on to feature for Midwestern State University in college.

“After visiting with Tate, you see the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. What he’s accomplished at Wall is incredible. I know Coach Lombard could coach anywhere in the State of Texas and we are thrilled to welcome him back home to Canyon,” Canyon Athletic Director Toby Tucker said in a press release.

Lombard had been at Wall for eight years, bringing two state titles to the 3A program and more than 200 wins. Lombard proved to be the missing piece to a tradition-rich program missing one thing, a state title.

"We had been to the state tournament before and the state championship before, but we had never won it," Wall ISD athletic director Jeremy Williams said. "He's a great teacher of the game, the community loved him. He was a super guy for our program."

Williams said the job will be posted as early as tomorrow and expects there to be a lot of interest in the position. However, Williams noted it'll be hard to replace Lombard.

The Wall Lady Hawks went on an impressive 31-2 run last season and made it back to the state tournament. They fell in the semifinals to Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill 53-49.

After their incredible season, Lombard was named the San Angelo LIVE! All-Concho Valley Coach of the Year.