The Gilbert district governing board  Tuesday night officially approved a recommendation from Mesquite High to hire Matt Gracey as the Wildcats next football coach.

Gracey, who has been a head coach the past 11 seasons, coached the last four years at Sherman E. Burroughs High in Ridgecrest, Calif., where he posted a 20-25 record in four seasons, 7-5 in 2010.  Prior to that he was the head coach at Port Angeles High (Wash.) in 2005 and 2006. From 2000-2004 he was head coach at Winslow High, guiding the Bulldogs to a 43-13 record, 3A semifinal appearances in 2002  and 2003 and the quarterfinals in 2004. Winslow was 30-6 in his final three seasons there.

"I heard about the opening (Mesquite) and talked to some people I knew," Gracey said, one of whom is Desert Ridge coach Jeremy Hathcock, who coached against Gracey and Winslow in the 2003 3A semifinals won by Hathcock's Show Low squad. "It caught my interest. My wife (Sarah) had wanted to come back to Arizona. I know from being in the state before it's a great place to live and would be a good place for our two daughters. Sarah wanted to come to Phoenix or Flagstaff....  I feel fortunate to get  a job like the one at Mesquite so we can come back."

Gracey, 36,  will finish out the year teaching at Burroughs, where he resigned as football coach in January. He is set to come to Arizona and Mesquite to meet with the school administration, coaches and players  the week of March 21. The school year at Burroughs ends June 9.

"I plan on packing on the moving van and being on my way June 10," Gracey said. "I've been kind of a nomadic coach the last few years, and I hope this ends that."

Gracey replaces Mike Reardon, who retired in December after coaching the Wildcats the past four seasons. Reardon was 22-23 in four seasons. The Wildcats made the playoffs in three of those four seasons -- 2007, 2009 and 2010.