Pasadena ISD names two new head coaches
Wednesday evening, Pasadena ISD named two new head coaches as Friendswood DC James Crocker was named the new head football coach (HFC) at Pasadena Memorial, while Pasadena Memorial assistant coach Demond Stafford was named the next HFC at Pasadena Rayburn. The moves likely end what’s been an extremely busy off-season in PISD as three schools changed coaches this off-season. Patrick Longstreet at South Houston and Kevin Berneathy at Pasadena Dobie are now both the most tenured HFC’s in the district, entering their second seasons.

Former assistant returns to Fort Worth Southwest as head coach
On Friday, Fort Worth ISD announced that Little Elm assistant coach Daron Franklin was named head football coach at Southwest High School. Franklin is no stranger to Southwest as he served as defensive coordinator for the Raiders in 2016 and 2017 and prior to that stint Franklin served as head football coach at Bourgeois High School in Gray, Louisiana.

Taylor still searching
Taylor appeared to be ready to name its next HFC/AD on Monday night and all indications were that a current head coach in the Austin area was the choice for TISD, but that the current head coach decided on Monday that the job was not for him and pulled his name from consideration that afternoon. Taylor did not name anyone at the board meeting Monday night and from all indications, the district is basically starting over and rumors are 10 candidates are being brought in for interviews.

Bomar’s back in Groesbeck
It’s a return to the place where he had his greatest success for veteran head coach Jerry Bomar after he was named the new HFC/AD at Groesbeck on Friday afternoon. Bomar, who spent the last three years at Beeville Jones, spent three seasons in Groesbeck from 1989-1991 and led the Goats to a 4A state championship in his final season at the helm. He’ll look to restore glory to a Groesbeck program that had stabilized under former head coach Steve Hale the past few seasons.

Turmoil in Tatum
Once considered one of the best small school jobs in East Texas, it appears that things aren’t as stable as they once were in Tatum. After the 2015 season, longtime head coach Andy Evans stepped down and former Kaufman head coach Craig Barker was hired in February 2016. Barker lasted two seasons as head coach and then in a surprise move last May, moved down from head coach to defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator Darren Hylander was promoted to head coach. Hylander coached the 2018 season, but Tuesday morning he announced that he was resigning from the post leaving Tatum once again looking for a new coach. With this turnover, Tatum has turned into a revolving door as the Eagles will have their third head coach in three years and fourth in the past five seasons.

W.T. Johnston Retires and other changes in Newton
There are changes abound in Newton as on Monday in a move that was not a surprise, WT Johnston announced his retirement as HFC/AD. Johnston became nationally known for his battle with a rare condition that has affected his lungs, while still coaching the Eagles and many nights being on the sidelines. Johnston has been an absolute inspiration to the state and country in addition to the community of Newton. Also on Monday night Newton offensive coordinator Greg Neece was named the new HFC/AD at Anahuac. Neece is no stranger to being a head coach as he spent six seasons leading Kirbyville and posted a 45-25 overall mark.

Mason and Shiner both promote defensive coordinators
In moves that surprised no one in Class 2A Region IV, both Mason and Shiner promoted assistants to take over as new HFC/AD. Mason, named defensive coordinator Michael McLeod as its HFC/AD Monday night, replacing Kade Burns who was moved to Mason HS principal in late February. On Tuesday morning, Shiner promoted defensive coordinator Daniel Boedeker to HFC/AD replacing Steven Cerny who announced his retirement effective at the end of the school year.

McCamey stays in-house
After the departure of Fred Staugh for Monahans a couple of weeks ago, the smart money was on McCamey staying inside with its replacement as the Badgers the past two years have had strong teams. On Monday defensive coordinator Michael Woodard announced to his team he was named as Staugh’s replacement and would take over as HFC/AD.

Heath Clawson steps down at Louise
Typically in the off-season there’s very little movement on Friday’s as most changes take place early in the week, but last Friday was an unusually busy day for movement in the coaching ranks and it was capped with the resignation of Louise HFC/AD Heath Clawson after three seasons. The Hornets never had a winning record in Clawson’s tenure, but did manage to make the playoffs in three straight seasons.

 

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: 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: 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.