Last spring, Mission Bay High School (MBHS) named Christa Allen as its new athletic director — a role her predecessor filled for decades. Allen, whose affiliation with MBHS athletics dates back to 1997, has hit the ground running this fall. “When Dennis [Pugh] retired, it was, to me, really good to see Christa step up and want the job and get the job,” said MBHS head football coach Willie Matson. “She wants to maintain the same high level in sports and she came in very eager. She really, really wants to do a good job. It’s important to her, and you can tell because she is communicating with all the coaches. “She’s worked here as a coach before and as a P.E. instructor, but being an athletic director is a different level of communication and relationships with coaches. She’s taken the time to get to know the coaches and the way their programs work, and their needs and wants, which I respect her for.” The respect extends from the basketball court,as well. “She will be a tireless and strong worker for the athletic department at Mission Bay,” said head basketball coach Dennis Kane. Allen, whose own playing background is in volleyball and swimming, reciprocates the admiration. “What has impressed me so far about MBHS is the quality of the staff and how many of our academic and athletic programs have achieved success,” Allen said. The program’s successes in the last year are notable. MBHS sent its baseball team, football team, boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, boys’ and girls’ soccer teams and others to the CIF playoffs. Mission Bay’s former athletic director’s contributions are still held in high esteem. “I would like to say what a great job Dennis Pugh did as athletic director,” Matson said. “He really raised this athletic department to high standards in every sport, and he was really a fixture at this school for many years. So, I wanted to make sure I gave him recognition because he was unbelievable.” Allen agrees. “The man who is my predecessor has taught me and guided me in my teaching and coaching for the last 14 years, and I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from him,” Allen said. “I thank him for that. I plan to continue to support our athletic programs and coaches, to continue to have success within their programs and help teach our athletes to become well-rounded, educated young men and women. “My specific goals for this year are to maintain the quality and success that is already in place and better our programs that have room for growth,” Allen said. Allen’s said her long-term goals are similar. She’d like to maintain the quality within the athletic programs and continue to instill the value of education and academics. The balancing act between athletic success and academic achievement is one Mission Bay staff and administrators do not take lightly. “We’ve been fortunate for the most part to have very good student athletes, but you want to bring along everybody, and I know that’s the focus of the administration,” Matson said. “I think Christa is carrying that along.”