Ronquillo replaces Randy Swilley, who stepped down in December after five seasons coaching the Tornados, who had a 5-5 record in 2012.
The high school will introduce Ronquillo at 7 tonight at its Performing Arts Center. The event is open to the public.
Ronquillo, 37, called the jump to Yelm a family decision, noting his extended family lives in the Olympia area as well as up and down the Interstate 5 corridor.
“We always planned on living close to family and keeping the cousins close,” Ronquillo said.
Ronquillo said his wife, Christine, and their two sons, 8-year-old Kyler and 3-year-old Marcus, will move to the Yelm area soon. His eldest son, Jerid, was a standout athlete at Hoquiam before graduating in 2011. He recently wrapped up his freshman season playing basketball at Columbia Basin College.
Jason Ronquillo had his best results the past three seasons at Hoquiam, leading the Grizzlies to a combined 25-8 record and the state playoffs each year from the 1A Southwest Washington Evergreen Division. That was after stepping down from the 2A Evergreen Conference. In 2012, Hoquiam won its first outright league title since 1979.
The first items on Ronquillo’s agenda at Yelm include getting the right athletes out for football, establishing a strong work ethic and “teaching players how to compete on the field and learning how to win with effort, execution and focusing on the process.”
“I think the community of Yelm wants a successful football program and I’m going to work my hardest to make that a reality,” said Ronquillo, who plans to run a multiple-set offense that emphasizes the no-huddle philosophy.
Yelm, competing in Class 4A for the first time in 2012 and had its best season since 2006. The Tornados were one win short of making the postseason. Ronquillo also will teach physical education at Yelm High.
WALLACE LANDS D-I OFFER
River Ridge senior guard Brad Wallace has his first basketball scholarship offer from an NCAA Division I school, and it’s from the University of Idaho, Hawks coach John Barbee said.
“It’s the first of many offers to come,” Barbee said.
Idaho was present at River Ridge’s 2A regional playoffs against Renton on Feb. 23 when the Indians beat the Hawks, 73-57. Other larger schools expressing interest in Wallace are Idaho State and Seattle University, Barbee said.
The 5-foot-11 guard wrapped up his high school basketball career by averaging nearly 28 points per game as a senior and leaves as the school’s all-time leading scorer.
ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS
River Ridge and W.F. West had two players each earn all-tournament honors at the Class 2A girls state basketball tournament in Yakima. The teams were selected by media members covering the tournaments last weekend at the Yakima SunDome.
River Ridge’s Jazzlynn Brewster and Rebecca Stevenson were voted first and second team all-tournament, respectively. W.F. West’s Jamika Parker and Olivia Erskine were named to the first team. At the 3A boys state tournament at the Tacoma Dome, Timberline’s Donaven Dorsey was named to the all-tournament second team.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473
mwochnick@theolympian.com
@megwochnick
www.theolympian.com/southsoundsports
