Anna defensive coordinator Efrain Ramos has been named the next head coach at Lamesa High School, Lamesa ISD announced on Friday.

He replaces Joseph Hood, who resigned his post in early January.

Ramos is a Plainview native who has spent his entire coaching career with Anna head coach Seth Parr, who was also his teammate in high school. Ramos' Coyotes defense pitched a shutout in the 4A-Division I state title game in 2023.

“When Lamesa called, I knew they had interest in me personally and the superintendent’s enthusiasm and energy was really contagious," said Ramos, who will begin his new job on March 18. "Then when I went to Lamesa and saw the weightroom and facilities, it showed me that what Lamesa is serious about winning. I think I’m a good fit for Lamesa being a West Texas guy and understanding the culture out west."

The new Lamesa head coach has been a defensive coordinator the past five seasons, three in Anna, and two at Lubbock Coronado. Ramos started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Amarillo Caprock, where Parr served as head coach from 2007-2013.

The native West Texan is excited to return to his roots, but he’s definitely glad he took the risk in 2021 to come to Anna when a lot of the experts thought Parr was crazy for taking a job at the struggling program in northern Collin County.

“When Coach Parr decided to come to Anna, he told me we had a chance to win it all," Ramos said. "I was all in from the jump. Of course it was a risk because we had a good thing going at Lubbock Coronado, but it just shows that when you put the work in, have a belief in what you are doing it pays off and shows what we’ve been doing all along is right."