Winds of Change

Breaking down HS coaching carousel

Seth Livingston
Matt Malatesta
Jan 26, 2018, 11:36 am
Dr. Mike Jackson new coach at Grand Oaks Vype

Originally appeared on Vype.com

So, what’s new in Houston HS sports?

Let’s start with football. While the state title games are over, the coaching carousel has been in full swing, especially with UIL realignment on the horizon.

n case you missed it, here’s what has happened. But more importantly, let me help our followers read between the lines.

Starting up north, District 12-6A has had some serious turnover.

Conroe – Cedric Hardeman of Alief Taylor replaces Robert Walker

Hardeman gets his players into college, period. He’s one of the best promoters in the city. Should use that to draw athletes to Tiger program. Will implement 7 on 7 and recruiting seminars.

The Woodlands – Mark Schmid Resigns; OC Jim Rapp is the Leading Candidate

This is a huge job in the State of Texas. Rapp will likely get this job as DC Pat Kennedy has been hired to open the new Montgomery School – Lake Creek. Big question is who will Kennedy take with him to Montgomery?

Big word here in this entire picture is RESIGNS. Will Mark Schmid coach next year? In a recent conversation with Schmid, the former Highlanders coach said there is a good chance we would be seeing him back on the sidelines in 2018. Schmid confirmed to VYPE that he is currently weighing options and could make a decision as soon as February. Schmid does currently live in Brenham. Stay Tuned.

Grand Oaks – Dr. Mike Jackson of La Marque opens new school

Dr. Mike has been at St. Pius, Chavez and La Marque in the past and has had success. See the word DR. in front of his name. He’s a tremendous administrator and will do a great job opening a new school on the athletic front. They will not play their first varsity district football game until 2021.

 

Lake Creek (Montgomery) – Pat Kennedy, DC of The Woodlands opens new school

Great first hire by Lake Creek. Kennedy is TOUGH, but the kids who play for him really respect him. He is used to winning and his defenses have been some of the best in the state. He’s going to have to be patient in this build out of the new school, which will likely be a Class 5A.

Another amazing hire at Lake Creek is Tommie Sledge, the volleyball coach at Oak Ridge, who has led the War Eagles to the state tourney a few times. With Royal Oaks opening and cutting into the Oak Ridge zone, Sledge will open Lake Creek which draws from the Woodforest Community that has kids who play select volleyball.

…

DISTRICT 16-6A

 

Aldine ISD – Richard Delgado Retires; Hired assistant AD Dre Thompson. District must hire new superintendent

What does all of this mean? Dre Thompson is a great hire and understands the importance of athletics, and keeping Aldine kids in Aldine. The KEY is the new Superintendent. This new hire MUST understand the IMPORTANCE of ATHLETICS in the school curriculum – such as Athletic Periods and Coaching Benefits, just to name a few. The future success of ALDINE ISD will start at the tippy top – the new Superintendent.

 

Eisenhower – Kerry Bamburg is Out; Keeath McGee and Eric Jackson are Finalists

The Ike Eagles have been a power program for years in Houston. In fact, AD Dre Thompson was once the head coach there and wants to get the right guy in place. If so, the Eagles can return to the top of the district. Ike has been to the state finals in 1999 and the state semis eight times.

Keeath Magee is no stranger to the Houston-area. He was the head coach at Willowridge, then left to be the head coach at North Crowley, then left to be the coach at Beaumont Ozen. Then to Pearl River CC, then was an assistant at Westfield and is now an assistant at A&M Consolidated.

Eric Jackson was the GHFCA Assistant Coach of the Year at Ike in 2015. He’s a defensive coach.

 

MacArthur – Andy Garza is Out; MacArthur Wayne Crawford and Scott Joseph are the finalist

Big Mac hasn’t been in playoffs since 2007 – which is a decade. Building from the junior highs will be paramount for this new hire. Wayne Crawford is an existing offensive coach at Mac, while Scott Joseph is the Morton Ranch DC. He was recently at Navarro CC and is the brother of Gary Joseph.

…

DISTRICT 19-6A

Katy Taylor – Chad Simmons replaces Trey Herrmann

Stability, stability, stability. Coming over from his DC post at Cinco Ranch, Simmons is a solid pick to replace Herrmann, who was placed on admin leave. It left the Mustangs in a mess with a ton of talent in the stable last year with Ian Beek, Ottito, Max Wright (ACL), etc. It was a bad situation all the way around. Simmons will bring a much-needed TOUGHNESS to Katy Taylor.

…

DISTRICT 21-6A

Summer Creek – Brian Ford Retires

Retires? He’s too young to retire. Brian Ford is off to the golf course after opening Summer Creek a decade ago. He built a solid program over the years, which is coming off a playoff appearance. Ford is from the North Shore David Aymond coaching tree and helped the ‘Stangs win their first state title in 2003. So who gets the job? DC Corey Sterling is definitely a candidate, who joined Ford from North Shore as well.

…

DISTRICT 22-6A

Pasadena ISD has two positions to fill at Dobie and South Houston, while legendary coach Chris Massey leaves Deer Park to pursue a career with Balfour Rings.

Deer Park – Chris Massey has Retired

Interviews begin Friday

South Houston – Dwayne Lane hired as Clear Creek Head Coach; Open

Lane brought a new culture to South Houston in a very short time, leading the Trojans to back-to-back playoff appearances for the third time in the school’s 60-year history. He got the call to come home to Clear Creek, where he used to work for coach Darrell Warden. His son is a freshman at Clear Creek as well. He couldn’t pass up the opportunity. 

Dobie – Mike Norman is out… New hire within days

…

DISTRICT 23-6A

AD Ben Pardo has some key hires to make as Pearland and Dawson are open. After talking to Pardo, the decision will come down in early February. These will be big hires as dominos are sure to fall if other coaches outside the program are hired.

Pearland – Interim HC Jim Farmer

Dawson – Eric Wells resigns after opening school 11 years ago

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DISTRICT 24-6A

Clear Creek – Darrell Warden Retires; Dwayne Lane of South Houston returns to run the program

…

OTHER CLASSES

Willis – Audie Jackson is out

Navasota – Patrick Goodman reassigned

La Marque – Dr. Mike Jackson moved to Grand Oakes

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ASTROS BLUEPRINT

Houston Astros' latest endeavor sounds like a home run for baseball fans

A new hotel is in the works near Minute Maid. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Astros owner Jim Crane says the team is ready to break ground on a major construction project that will include a hotel and entertainment complex across the street from Minute Maid Park as soon as the 2023 baseball season wraps up – hopefully with another World Series parade in downtown Houston.

AstrosWorld!

But another hotel? Another entertainment complex? More construction downtown? My first reaction was, how much more does Houston need? I remember when the Super Bowl was held in Houston in 2004, clubs and restaurants sprung up downtown practically overnight, only to disappear virtually the morning after. When it came to downtown development, the expression “less is more” turned out true. At least that Super Bowl.

I asked my contacts in government and the Houston welcome wagon, is this a good idea, building a hotel and entertainment complex next door to Minute Maid Park? Do we need it? Can we sustain it?

The answer every time was a resounding yes! For a couple of reasons: first, downtown Houston, coming out of Covid, is booming, leadership is creative and budget-minded these days, and most important, if Jim Crane is behind the idea, you can trust it’ll work. The guy’s got a track record.

“In 2004, the idea was to turn downtown’s Main Street into Bourbon Street. Is that what we really want? It was a misguided plan, the wrong philosophy, and businesses opened and closed in short order,” a source told me.

It was a different story when the Super Bowl returned to Houston in 2017. This time Houston saw the Marriott Marquis, a 1,000-room hotel complete with an iconic Texas-shaped swimming pool, open in time for the tourist onslaught. Also, Avenida Houston greeted downtown visitors with new restaurants and entertainment venues. Both the Marriott and Avenida Houston have continued to thrive long after the Super Bowl left town.

“We want our downtown to attract visitors while providing services for the growing number of singles and families who are making their home downtown. As we continue to host major events and conventions, there will be a need for more hotel rooms,” the source said.

The Astros’ plan to build a sprawling hotel and entertainment complex originally was discussed in 2021 but was put on hold due to Covid. Now Crane and the Astros are ready to come out swinging. Similar complexes operate successfully next to the baseball stadium in St. Louis, Chicago and other cities.

An Astros-themed hotel adjacent to Minute Maid Park is particularly intriguing. The lobby could be home to an Astros museum and team Hall of Fame. Rooms and restaurants could be decorated in honor of Astros legends – the “Nolan Ryan honeymoon suite,” or “Strech Suba’s Bullpen Bar and Grille.” There could be meeting space for autograph and memorabilia shows. There could be a broadcast facility for post-game interviews and analysis. And maybe one day, fingers crossed, a betting parlor like the Cubs have at Wrigley Field.

The Astros have a contract to play at Minute Maid Park through 2050 – the only long-term contract that doesn’t make Crane cringe. Anything that enhances the fan experience and generates revenue is good for the team and the city. I might even consider going downtown on non-game nights.

astroshouston astros

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