This Week in TXHSFB: A name to know for Rockwall opening; Alief Taylor and Corpus Christi King make hires; Port Isabel opens up

Jay Stevens

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What’s next for Rockwall after Rodney Webb leaves for Denton Guyer?

In a major DFW shakeup, Rockwall head coach Rodney Webb has been named the new head coach at Denton Guyer. Webb, who in 17 seasons as a head coach at Royse City, Mesquite Horn and Rockwall posted a 137-71 record, will become the second head coach in school history aside from John Walsh, who resigned on March 16.

One of the most respected coaches in the state, Webb is the current Texas High School Coaching Association president, a post he’ll relinquish in July.

He's spent the past seven seasons turning Rockwall into a consistent force in DFW, posting a 61-28 record with appearances in the second round of the state playoffs in six of seven seasons. He was a 2014 regional semifinalist, a 2015 regional finalist and a 2019 state semifinalist. Webb also led Horn to the 2010 regional finals and Royse City to the 2004 state semifinals and the 2006 regional finals. He inherits a team that played for a state title last year and returns several key pieces as Guyer looks to make another run at a title in 2020.

Rockwall has posted their job opening to replace Webb. Smart money is this job stays in-house with offensive coordinator Trey Brooks, last year’s Dairy Max Built by Chocolate Milk Assistant Coach of the Year as named by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

 

Alief Taylor Names Shawn Gray

Alief Taylor named Fort Bend Bush offensive coordinator Shawn Gray as its new head coach on Monday. He replaces Brian Randle, who departed in February to take over at Katy Mayde Creek. This will be Gray’s first ever head coaching job and he takes over a Taylor squad that has the potential to be a perennial playoff team.

 

Corpus Christi King Hires Doug Foster

Corpus Christi ISD named Richmond Foster assistant head coach Doug Foster as the next head coach at Corpus Christi King. Foster has spent the past two seasons on staff at Richmond Foster under head coach Shaun McDowell. Prior to that, Foster served as head coach at Bellville in 2009 and 2010, then he went to Rockport-Fulton as an assistant before taking over at Poteet in 2014 where he remained until the spring of 2018. Foster has a career head coaching record of 22-40, with his best season being a 7-4 mark at Poteet in 2016. That record came just two years after Foster inherited an 0-10 team at Poteet.

 

Strunk Leaves Port Isabel Returns Home to Pennsylvania

Port Isabel HC Jason Strunk informed his team on Sunday that he accepted an athletic director position at Manheim Township High School near Lancaster, PA. Strunk spent two seasons leading the Tarpons and prior to that had a tenure as head coach at Lubbock High School. Port Isabel had some district administrative changes during Strunk’s tenure, however, Strunk cited the chance to be a bit closer to family - his son Mac Strunk who signed a track scholarship to The Citadel - as more of a factor in the decision to depart the Rio Grande Valley. “I love Texas High School Football and I loved my time in the Valley, this was a decision I felt was best for my family,” Strunk told Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

 

Rockdale Promotes Campsey to Head Football Coach/Athletic Director

After narrowing the field to four candidates early this week, Rockdale ISD announced on Thursday evening that defensive coordinator Jacob Campsey would be named the new HFC/AD. Campsey, a native of Devine, started his coaching career at Thrall as an assistant and joined the staff at Rockdale in 2014. Campsey was the defensive coordinator for Rockdale’s 2017 3A-Division I state championship team.

 

Omaha Pewitt Names New Head Coach

Omaha Paul Pewitt has named Nashville (Arkansas) defensive coordinator Richard Strickland as its new head coach, sources tell Dave Campbells Texas Football.

Strickland was the head coach at Overton from 2016-2017 where he led the Mustangs to an 8-3 record in 2016. He was an assistant coach at Henderson from 2009-2016, where the Lions won a state title in 2010; he served as their defensive coordinator from 2014-2016.

Strickland, who was an assistant coach on Carthage's 2008 state title team, replaces Triston Abron, DCTF's Visit Fort Worth Coach of the Year who led Pewitt to the 3A Division II state finals in 2019. He took the head coaching job at Mexia.

In his last two seasons as DC at Nashville, his teams went a combined 21-5 and made consecutive state quarterfinals appearances. Expect Strickland, a defensive guy by trade, to stick with a ground-oriented attack, which has been very successful for Pewitt. 

 

Jarryd Taylor Returns Home to Ozona

Ozona alum Jarryd Taylor returns home as he was named the new HFC/AD at Ozona High School on Thursday. Taylor, a 2004 graduate of Ozona, has spent the last two seasons as the linebacker coach at Midland High. Prior to that, Taylor served as an assistant on staff at Denver City where he worked for his father Steve Taylor. Steve Taylor served as HFC/AD at Ozona from 1999-2004. Taylor takes over for Kyle Freeman who left in February after leading the Lions to an 8-4 record in 2019.

 

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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.

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