Del Van Cox promoted to Abilene ISD Assistant AD
In something that I had hinted at for a little more than a week, Abilene head coach Del Van Cox was named the new assistant athletic director for Abilene ISD on Monday. Cox led the Eagles for four seasons posting a 26-18 overall record. His best season was an 11-2 mark in 2016 when AHS fell in the regional semifinals to eventual state champion DeSoto in a crushing defeat in which Abilene led by 10 points with less than two minutes remaining. Cox, who was a long-time assistant at Abilene High before taking over in 2015, replaces Chuck Griffin who returned to the sidelines a couple of weeks ago to become HFC at Georgetown. Defensive coordinator Mike Fullen is assuming the duties of head coach at Abilene High and will lead the Eagles through spring practice and the smart money is Fullen will lead the program in 2019 and possibly beyond.

Borger sets a timeline
DCTF confirmed with Borger ISD AD Eric Wilson, that interviews for the vacant head football coach post at Borger will start up early next week as the job was posted to THSCA on Monday. Borger ISD is looking to have a coach in place by May 13.

Terrell narrows the field
Sources indicate that Terrell will be wrapping up interviews for its vacant head football position after Mike Shields’ departure earlier in the month. The final two candidates appear to be a current head coach in DFW and a DFW assistant coach with ties to the community.

Stark steps aside in Bowie
Bowie native Dylan Stark had a strong eight-year run at his alma mater, but on Tuesday he resigned his post to take a position on staff at Windthorst. Stark cited being in the same school as his wife Heather and their children along with the chance to coach his children as the primary driver in the decision. Stark’s wife is the head girls basketball coach at Windthorst and the family makes their home in Windthorst. Stark led Bowie to playoff wins in 2015 and 2016, which were the program’s first playoff victories since 1982.

A shocking resignation in Edna
Monday night, news broke from Edna that head coach Jerry Long resigned his post after two seasons and a 20-7 overall mark at Edna, including a 12-2 mark in 2018. According to the Victoria Advocate, Long is presently the subject of an investigation by the Jackson County Sherriff’s Office. From all accounts, Edna will look to move quickly in the hiring of a new HFC/AD as it tries and put this situation in the rearview mirror.

Newton stays in-house
In a move that comes as a surprise to no one, Newton Monday night promoted defensive coordinator Drew Johnston to the position of HFC/AD. Johnston replaces is father W.T. Johnston who led the Eagles to back to back state titles in 2017 and 2018 before retiring in March due to failing health.

Two of the state’s smallest 11-man programs make changes
Two 2A Division II programs on opposite ends of the state that have seen their share of recent struggles will be going in a different direction in 2019. In the panhandle, Booker HC Shane Reagan stepped down after three seasons, the Kiowas won just five games in the past three years. Booker has an enrollment that would make them eligible to drop to 1A, but at this time, there appear to be no plans to play six-man football. Meanwhile, down in Burkeville HC Kenneth Thomas told DCTF on Tuesday that he was stepping down and would not be coaching in 2018. Low numbers have decimated the once proud Burkeville program as they’ve won just five games in the past eight seasons. Reports are Burkeville is strongly considering moving to six-man football and dropping to Class 1A next realignment.

7-on-7 SQT Play Begins in This Week

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

The Frisco SQT will take place at the Star in Frisco and due to re-sodding of the Dallas Cowboys grass practice field, two pools will take place at Wakeland High School. We will have scores up on texasfootball.com Saturday evening and we’ll bring you interviews from coaches at the qualifier as well!

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 9: Flower Mound, 6:00pm at Flower Mound HS

May 9: Plano East, 7:00pm at Kimbrough Stadium

May 10: 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 14: Saginaw Boswell, 6:00pm at Boswell HS

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

May 15: Waxahachie, TBD at Lumpkins Stadium

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

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

May 16: Duncanville, 7:00pm at Panther Stadium

May 16: South Grand Prairie, TBD at SGPHS

May 16: Southlake Carroll, TBD at Dragon Stadium

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: Lewisville, 7:00pm at Goldsmith Stadium

May 16: Flower Mound Marcus, 6:00pm at Marauder Stadium

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: Denton Guyer, 5:00pm at Guyer HS

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

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

May 21: Arlington Lamar, 6:00pm at Cravens Field

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: Sachse, 6:30pm at Sachse HS

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

May 22: Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, 5:00pm at Veterans Memorial HS

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

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

May 23: Mission Veterans Memorial, 6:00pm at Veterans Memorial 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: Haltom, 5:00pm at Birdville Stadium

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, 6:00pm 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 Americas, 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

 

 

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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.