Alvin’s journey to find a head coach
The head coaching position at Alvin High has been open since December 20 when Buddy Hardin resigned after one winless season. It appeared Alvin ISD had its guy in late February when former University of South Carolina assistant Kirk Botkin was hired and presented at a board meeting. Alvin ISD even sent out photos of Botkin and his family at the board meeting, but just a day later the social media posts were removed and word filtered out that Alvin was back in search of a new head football coach as apparently Botkin decided against taking the job. Before spring break, DCTF learned there was apparently a new candidate who AISD had targeted for the head coaching vacancy and would be named to the position upon returning from the holiday. That head coach was a veteran of coaching and extensive ties to the area, however late last week that coach advised multiple sources that he was not pursuing that vacancy any further. Sources are indicating to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, that a hire will likely not be made until April 9 which would mean the Alvin job would be open for well over three months.

Cy Ranch’s Gene Johnson to Waller
In a move we hinted at in last week’s edition of This Week in TXHSFB, Waller sent shockwaves through the Houston area naming Cypress Ranch head coach Gene Johnson as its next head football coach replacing Jim Phillips who is now Waller ISD athletic director. Johnson spent nine seasons at Cypress Ranch posting an impressive 77-30 record, including leading the Mustangs to the 2013 6A Division I state title game and an 11-1 mark in 2018. Johnson’s departure leaves a major opening in the Houston area. Despite Cy Ranch being impacted by the opening of Bridgeland High School, it’s still a quality job in a school district that is considered maybe the best large ISD in the state for football top-to-bottom. Cy-Fair ISD has made a habit of typically promoting from within when head coaching openings happen inside the district, but this job could be the exception as many quality applicants from across the state are expected.

Longview Spring Hill names Louvier
Monday night, Longview Spring Hill named Gladewater assistant head coach Jonny Louvier as its next head football coach/athletic director. Louvier was the head coach for one season at Frankston, posting a 4-6 mark in his one season at the helm, he then spent 2017 as an assistant at Tyler Lee before heading to his alma mater Gladewater for the 2018 season.

Groesbeck and McGregor interviews begin
Groesbeck is beginning interviews this week as it looks to replace Steve Hale who left last month to take over at his alma mater Hillsboro. Groesbeck ISD has multiple school board meetings set up this week, presumably to conduct an initial round of interviews. Don’t be surprised if Groesbeck looks to a name that’s very familiar and has ties to their state title team from the early 1990’s to be the next guy. Meanwhile, in McGregor after a much publicized split with Judd Thrash a few weeks back, McGregor ISD is looking to move forward with hiring a new head football coach/athletic director. Three internal candidates were interviewed this week and three external candidates will be brought in next week.

Shiner’s Cerny retires
After an incredible 17 season run in which he posted a 172-51 overall record, Shiner head coach/athletic director Steven Cerny on Monday announced he was retiring effective at the end of the school year. Cerny led the Comanches to a state title in 2004 and to the state championship game in 2013 and had been at the school since 1988. In addition to his success on the gridiron, Cerny also coached Shiner to a pair of state titles in baseball in 1992 and 2002 and he’s currently the girls softball coach as well. Cerny has guided Shiner’s softball team to state titles in 2015 and 2016, he will finish the softball season out before riding off into the sunset and into retirement.

Dewaski Davis resigns at Clarksville
After 11 seasons at the helm in far Northeast Texas, Clarksville’s Dewaski Davis has resigned his post as HFC/AD. Davis took over when Clarksville was a small 3A (now 4A) program and since then, enrollment has steadily declined to the point now where now Clarksville is a 2A Division II program. He posted a 54-67 overall record, with is best season coming in 2011 when Clarksville posted a 10-2 record.

Class 2A Upheaval
It’s not a realignment year so as a whole it’s been a “normal” year for coaching changes, but in Class 2A we’ve had several high profile programs who will see new head coaches leading them in 2019. The headliner is defending 2A Division I state champion Mason, who saw Kade Burns move into the role of principal at Mason High School. However, as noted by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football managing editor Greg Tepper on Texas Football Today, the following Class 2A programs will have new coaches; Mason, Shiner, San Saba, Wellington, DeLeon, McCamey, Tenaha, Grapeland and Lovelady. These programs combined in 2018 for a 100-22 record.

 

With Spring Break in the rearview mirror it’s time to start looking ahead to Spring Football across the state!! Class 5A and Class 6A schools have the option to participate in spring practice and if they elect to do so they start fall camp a week later than 4A and below programs and 5A/6A schools that elected to not have spring ball. Schools that also choose to have spring ball also only have one preseason scrimmage instead of two. Below is a list of dates for spring football games across the state, if we are missing one send to matt.stepp@texasfootball.com!

 

May 8: White Settlement Brewer, 6:00pm at Brewer HS

May 14: Katy Cinco Ranch, 6:00pm at Cinco Ranch HS

May 14: Cy-Fair, 7:00pm at Cy-Fair HS

May 14: Round Rock Westwood, 6:00pm at Westwood HS

May 14: Laredo United: 6:30pm at Krueger Field

May 15: Tyler John Tyler, 6:00pm at John Tyler HS

May 15: Odessa Permian, 6:30pm at Ratliff Stadium

May 16: Allen, 6:00pm at Eagle Stadium

May 16: South Grand Prairie, TBD at SGPHS

May 16: Keller, 7:00pm at Keller ISD Stadium

May 16: Keller Central, 7:00pm at Keller Central HS

May 16: Keller Fossil Ridge, 6:00pm at Fossil Ridge HS

May 16: Odessa, 7:00pm at Ratliff Stadium

May 16: Pearland, 7:00pm at The Rig

May 16: Granbury, 6:00pm at Pirate Stadium

May 16: Crowley, 6:00pm at Eagle Stadium

May 16: Frisco Lone Star, 5:00pm at Lone Star HS

May 16: Alvin Shadow Creek, 6:30pm at Shadow Creek HS

May 16: Austin Westlake, 7:00pm at Westlake HS

May 16: Fort Bend Hightower, 6:00pm at Mercer Stadium

May 17: Alief Elsik, 6:00pm at Crump Stadium

May 17: Tyler Lee, 5:30pm at Lee HS

May 17: Burleson Centennial, 6:00pm at Centennial HS

May 17: Lubbock Cooper, 5:30pm at Pirate Stadium

May 17: Weatherford, 6:30pm at Kangaroo Stadium

May 17: Red Oak, 7:00pm at Goodloe Stadium

May 17: McKinney, 6:00pm at Poe Stadium

May 17: Leander, 7:00pm at Bible Stadium

May 17: Lake Travis, 7:30pm at Cavalier Stadium

May 17: Katy Seven Lakes, 6:30pm at Seven Lakes HS

May 17: El Paso Montwood, 6:00pm at Montwood HS

May 18: Cypress Bridgeland, TBD at Bridgeland HS

May 18: Frisco Heritage, 7:00pm at Heritage HS

May 18: Pearland Dawson, 10:00am at Dawson HS

May 18: Willis, 7:00pm at Yates Stadium

May 20: Houston King, 6:00pm at Crenshaw Memorial Stadium

May 20: Longview, 6:00pm at Lobo Stadium

May 21: Forney, 7:00pm at City Bank Stadium

May 21: Wylie, 5:30pm at Wylie ISD Stadium

May 21: Austin Reagan, 6:00pm at Nelson Field

May 21: Mesquite, 7:00pm at Hanby Stadium

May 21: Mission Veterans Memorial, 6:00pm at Veterans Memorial HS

May 21: Rockwall, 7:00pm at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium

May 21: Pasadena Dobie, 3:00pm at Dobie HS

May 22: El Paso Pebble Hills, 6:00pm at Pebble Hills HS

May 22: Clear Brook, 7:00pm at Clear Brook HS

May 22: Frisco Centennial, 5:00pm at Centennial HS

May 22: McKinney Boyd, 7:00pm at Boyd HS

May 22: Cedar Hill, 6:00pm at Longhorn Stadium

May 22: Arlington Lamar, 6:00pm at Cravens Field

May 22: Sachse, 6:30pm at Sachse HS

May 22: Belton, 5:30pm at Belton HS

May 22: Dripping Springs, 6:00pm at Tiger Stadium

May 22: Frisco Lebanon Trail, 6:00pm at Lebanon Trail HS

May 23: Haslet Eaton, 6:30pm at Eaton HS

May 23: San Angelo Central, 6:00pm at San Angelo Stadium

May 23: Colleyville Heritage, 6:00pm at CHHS

May 23: Arlington, 6:00pm at Arlington HS

May 23: San Antonio O’Connor, 5:00pm at O’Connor HS

May 23: Waco Midway, 5:00pm at Panther Stadium

May 23: Justin Northwest, 6:00pm at Northwest ISD Stadium

May 23: McKinney North, 6:30pm at McKinney North HS

May 23: Frisco Memorial, 6:00pm at Memorial HS

May 23: Lancaster, 6:30pm at Humphrey Tiger Stadium

May 23: Midlothian, 6:30pm at MISD Stadium

May 23: North Forney, 6:00pm at City Bank Stadium

May 23: El Paso Eastlake, 6:00pm at Eastlake HS

May 23: Klein Cain, 7:00pm at Cain HS

May 23: Frisco, 3:00pm at Frisco HS

May 23: Arlington Martin, 7:00pm at Martin HS

May 24: Waco, 6:00pm at Waco HS

May 24: El Paso Del Valle, 5:00pm at Conquest Stadium

May 24: Cedar Park, 7:30pm at Cedar Park HS

May 24: South Oak Cliff, 6:00pm at Kincaide Stadium

May 24: El Paso Amercias, 7:00pm at Americas HS

May 24: McAllen Memorial, 6:00pm at Boxer Hernandez Stadium

 

It’s officially clinic season in the state of Texas and if you have coaching clinic information that we are missing below by all means send it our way! You can e-mail it to me at matt.stepp@texasfootball.com or reach out to me on twitter @Matt_Stepp817

May 3-4: I-45 Clinic, The Woodlands

May 3-4: El Paso Football Clinic, El Paso

June 11-13: Angelo Football Clinic, San Angelo

June 13-14: Dos Amigos Clinic, Eagle Pass

July 21-23: 2017 THSCA Coaches Convention & Coaching School, Houston

 

The Texas 7-on-7 Qualifying Season kicks off on April 27 with a Division I State Qualifier in Frisco, for the full schedule and information on 7-on-7 in Texas go to http://www.texas7on7.org

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Matt Stepp is the Texas High School Football Inside for Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Find him on Twitter: @Matt_Stepp817.