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THE CAROUSEL: Coaching movement changing cultures across SE Texas
The coaching carousel in the Greater Houston and Southeast Texas areas has been spinning somewhat under the radar.
In case you missed it, here are some of the biggest storylines.
PEARLAND GETS IT STARTED
When Ricky Tullos took the Bryan High School job, who knew the how the dominos would fall. Follow me on this. Tullos goes to Bryan and defending State Champ coach BJ Gotte of Katy Paetow takes over the Pearland program. Denton Ryan OC Lonnie Teague gets the Paetow job and brings over David Hicks from Allen as an associate head coach. He brings over with him his son David Hicks Jr., who is the No. 1 player on Texas for the 2023 class.
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MILLER SPRNGS TO WILLIS
Trent Miller built a power over the past few seasons at Spring High with his explosive offense. Miller has taken the Willis Wildkat job after the departure of coach Mike Wall. He will have super sophomore QB DJ Lagway to work with for the next two seasons.
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YOUNG JOSEPH GETS MASSIVE JOB
If you have never been to Port Neches-Groves and seen a game at the Reservation, you are missing out. PNG’s Brett Faircloth took the Sulphur Springs job and in comes a familiar name to all of Texas – Jeff Joseph. Jeff is the son of legendary Katy coach Gary Joseph. Jeff was at Southlake Carroll as the special teams coordinator last year.
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MOVEMENT DOWN SOUTH
Texas City coach Leland Surovik moves to the AD spot leaving the Stings job open for now. Blake Ryder takes over at Santa Fe, Kevin Berneathy of Dobie takes the La Porte job, Pasadena Dobie hires Pasadena Rayburn HC Demon Stafford and Brazoswood Danny Youngs leaves to Brenham as Joe Dale Cary takes over the Bucs.
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MOVING ON UP
Coaches are always looking to move up the coaching ladder. Here are some interesting moves. Ramon ChinYoung leaves Willowridge to be a Quality Control coach for the Denver Broncos... Goose Creek-Memorial’s Shannon Carter takes an Abilene Christian assistant job and interim Daniel Ragsdale takes over Patriot Nation… Summer Creek OC Cornelius Harmon gets the Nimitz HC job… Westbury HC Darrel Colbert takes over at Class 6A Beaumont United… Atascocita DC Jacody Coleman is hired as the Dallas Skyline HC… CE King HC Derek Fitzhenry moves to the AD spot and George Young is now the HC… Huffman HC and AD Mike McEachern takes over as the AD at Pflugerville… Hightower assistant Will Blaylock was hired as HC of Lubbock Estacado…Manvel OC Kendrick Crumedy takes over as Jasper’s HC
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SAYING GOODBYE
Legendary coach Cornel Thompson of West Orange-Stark, who led the ‘Stangs to two State titles, has retired… After 19 seasons, John Bolfing hangs up the whistle at Montgomery.
BREAKING: Trent Miller hired as new Willis ISD head football coach
WILLIS – As Trent Miller was preparing to go through a string of interviews, he was in need of the right colored attire. Miller searched store after store, even looking on Amazon for the right shade of purple - Willis purple.
On Thursday morning, donning a dark purple tie matching the backlit logo placed on the wall above the seats for the Willis ISD School Board, Miller was unanimously named the next head football coach of the Wildkats.
"I'm beyond excited to take over this program and be here with this community," Miller said. "Just in here today felt like 100 people in this room all here just to meet me and welcome my family to this community. We're looking forward to it. We're excited and ready to get started."
According to Willis ISD Superintendent Tim Harkrider, Miller was one of six candidates brought in for interviews last week, conducted by a 12-member hiring committee.
Miller spent the previous five seasons at Spring High School where he was 41-14 overall. Last year, Spring went 11-2 overall. The Lions made the playoffs all five seasons under his tutelage.
In his five years in the playoffs, Spring reached the third round of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. In the playoffs, Miller’s team defeated new district-mate, The Woodlands twice – including in the bi-district round in 2021 winning 52-35.
"The beauty of being at Spring all those years was that we always had really talented players and kids," Miller said. "That partnered with an exceptional coaching staff helped that process. The things we've learned with how to deal with young men and overcome adversity and teaching kids how to win, I think is what is going to put us in the best situation possible to bring that attitude and mindset here and be successful at Willis High School."
But just a good head football coach isn't what Executive Director of Fine Arts and Athletics Jason Glenn wanted. He wanted a program builder, which Miller is.
"When we were talking about our next head coach, the one thing I reiterated was we do not want to hire a head coach," Glenn said. "We wanted to hire a program. It's two different things. We wanted to hire a program that affects the Little League teams, middle schools and high schools."
The new head man of the Wildkats takes over a program that has made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. Last year, Willis went 6-6 overall, which was its first non-losing season since 2016.
One of the key pieces that Miller will have back as he gears up for the 2022 season will be national-recruit DJ Lagway at quarterback.
"I had the chance to talk and visit with DJ and his dad a few days ago," Miller said. "The young man is special. I cannot wait to get my hands on him and start working with him."
As good as it is having a athletic star at quarterback, Miller also - just like Glenn eluded to - recognizes the other talent on the Willis roster and coming up through the ranks that he will use to build a winning program.
"We're not going to build just a season here," Miller said. "That's not how you set up situations for your teams to be successful for years to come. What we're building is a program. That's going to start with the seventh graders all the way through the seniors."
So, now that Miller has the right shade of purple, Willis ISD Superintendent Tim Harkrider gave him one final piece of advice in his closing comments - make sure to check that Wildkats is spelt with a "K" and not a "C".
Welcome to Willis.