Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas

Episode 37: Head Football Coach and AD for Ruidoso HS, Shane Eidson talks New Mexico football and taking on his new role.

Head football coach and AD for Ruidoso HS, Shane Eidson is taking over as the new coach for the Ruidoso Warriors.  Expanding his role for the district from AD to the combination job, he will take what he has learned from his mentors as a coach in Texas and apply those same principles to football in New Mexico.  Coach Eidson talks about the similarities, differences and challenges for programs in New Mexico versus Texas.  My older brother, Heath Brown, retired head football coach/AD and high school principal joins me for this episode as we enjoy our vacation in New Mexico.

Episode 36: new Blanco athletic director and head football coach Kent Walker talks about the importance of teaching toughness and why it's so important to him.

Kent Walker left his very successful program in Liberty Hill for the rolling hills of Blanco.  Coach Walker brings to Blanco a toughness that he has acquired through the difficult times in his life, that he hopes to pass on to his new athletes so they are prepared to handle the challenges life brings.

Episode 35: Highlights from Season 1

Season 1 had a lot of good information shared by coaches from all of the schools we visited.  I put together some of the more memorable moments and some of the funniest/unusual moments to wrap up the season.

Episode 34: Mason Puncher head football coach and AD, Wade Griffin, brings his four kids and coaching wife to where he hopes to be his last stop on his coaching journey.

From Texas to Oklahoma and back, from small schools to big schools and back, head football coach and AD for Mason ISD, Wade Griffin has seen it all.  With four kids in school and a wife who is also a coach, he hopes to make Mason his final resting place on his coaching journey.  Join us as Coach Griffin shares his thoughts and ideas for successful football programs and what he is bringing to a town with a rich history of success in academics and athletics.

Episode 33: Strawn Greyhound head football coach and superintendent, Dewaine Lee talks about what has kept him in his small town and the challenges of the filming of the "Texas 6" series.

Coach Dewaine Lee wears a lot of big hats in the small 6-man community of Strawn.  Superintendent, head football coach and city council member are just a few.  In his 27 years as a head coach he has amassed over 250 wins and 5 state championships.  The lure of bigger and better things has not been able to drag him away from the town he has called home for the last 22 years.  We discuss the documentary "Texas 6" that was filmed with his 2019 and 2020 teams and also what it means to be "MIS- made in Strawn". 

Episode 32: Join me and head football coach/boys coordinator, Eli Reinhart of the Hutto Hippos as we discuss his methods for starting his program.

Eli Reinhart is fresh off his state championship win as the OC for the North Crowley Panthers.  He is taking over for the Hutto Hippos with his first head coaching role.  We discuss everything from Michigan high school football to his expectations for his new athletes as he begins a new era in Hippo football.

Episode 31: Establishing YOUR program. Randy Jackson talks about what to do and when to do it, as you lay the foundation for your program.

Randy Jackson has had experience as a head coach and specifically turning programs around by developing culture and very intentional actions to bring about the desired result:  a successful program.  Listen to Coach Jackson talk about the first steps and priorities you will want to attend to as you start your program.

Episode 30: Brent Kornegay takes the reigns for his first season as head coach for the Johnson City Eagles and 22 years as a head coach overall.

Brent Kornegay enters his 22nd year as a head coach and athletic director, starting anew at Johnson City in the hill country.  After retiring once, the pull to get back on the field brought him back in 2 years ago and now he looks to revive the Eagles program for Johnson City.

Episode 29: Azle Hornet head football coach and athletic coordinator, Devon Dorris, talks about coming full circle back to his hometown to coach and the pillars his program is built on.

Devon Dorris is closing out his 15th season as head coach for Azle ISD and that is probably the longest tenure of any head football coach in Azle high school history.  He has returned to his hometown and kept the hornets playing consistently at a high level against 5A powerhouses in the DFW area.  Coach Dorris has taken what he learned from his coaches in high school and college and put them into practice for the Hornets.

Episode 28: Head football coach for the Albany Lions, Denney Faith, talks about his long stint at Albany and some of the reasons for their history of success.

Denney Faith is the 2nd winningest active football coach in the state of Texas with 369 wins.  Coach Faith talks about what keeps the Lions consistently in winners circle and what the keys are to staying in one place so long.  (and it's not just the bass fishing up there!)