Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas

Episode 77: head football coach and athletic director for Holland ISD, Phillip Gibson, takes us through our next episode in our personnel series.

A passion for kids, that's the number one thing head football coach and athletic director for the Holland Hornets, Phillip Gibson,  is looking for when he has to hire a coach.  But be prepared to get on the whiteboard and talk football too!  He understands the importance of Xs and Os but his priorities are in order.  With most of the Hornet staff returning, Coach Gibson was able to make the transition a little easier for himself and the coaches, making the Holland Hornets excited to rise up as a contender in district 13 of 2A-2.

Episode 76: Head football coach and assistant athletic director for La Vega ISD, Don Hyde, talks us through our next episode on personnel.

Don Hyde has been in La Vega ISD for over 20 years.  This is a rarity in the coaching world, but he wouldn't have it any other way.  He has put together a staff that focuses on family and they have expanded their family to consist of the entire community.   The La Vega ISD administration understands the importance of athletics and they are willing to make the investment into the program so their athletes will have the best opportunities and something to be proud of.  With a great staff and a long-term investment in the people of the community, the La Vega Pirates plan on continuing their history of success on the football field under the leadership of Coach Hyde.

Episode 75: Head football coach and athletic director for the Dawson Bulldogs, Logan Simmons talks about getting personnel in place and taking over the Bulldog program.

From the resort community of Marble Falls to the dirt roads of Dawson, Logan Simmons and his family are making the move back to small town Texas.  Both he and his wife grew up in Little River so small towns are nothing new, but running a program is.  Coach Simmons has his first head job as the head football coach and athletic director for Dawson ISD and he has had to hit the ground running.  Getting a late start at end of April, he  had to hire most of his staff, get to know the athletes, start implementing his offense and defense and move his family!  But his excitement for what's going on at Dawson far outweighs the heavy load he will carry for the next few months.  The Bulldogs and their staff are excited for big things to come in Dawson!

Episode 74: Head football coach and athletic coordinator for the Bastrop Bears, Jake Griedl, talks about how he deals with personnel issues.

Jake Griedl has worked in some of the top programs in the state and has taken what he has learned in each of those and put it all into practice at Bastrop High School.  He values his coaches and their input, believing every coach plays a significant role, whether they are in year one or year twenty.  Not only does he push his players to continually get better, but he expects the same from his coaches, implementing professional development strategies he learned from one of his mentors.  As coaches and players continue to get better, his program will continue to thrive, working to become a powerhouse in central Texas.

Deep in the Heart Athletics- special episode introducing Deep in the Heart Athletics and their upcoming zoom clinic.

Deep in the Heart Athletics, LLC is a new coach owned business working to provide professional development opportunities to coaches through clinics and help promote rural athletic programs across the state through a podcast.  Today we are getting them introduced and letting people know about their upcoming clinic.

Episode 73: Boerne Greyhounds head football coach and athletic coordinator, Brett Sawyer, talks favorite podcasts to weight lifting philosophy.

Brett Sawyer is beginning year 9 overall in Boerne and year 2 as the head man.  After 7 years as the DC for his good friend, the change to head coach was easy with several years of head coaching experience already on his resume.  Everything he does with his program is about functionality.  How can it help the program?  He keeps things simple, whether it's on the field or in the weight room.  This philosophy keeps them efficient, with very little wasted time for players or coaches.  Coach Sawyer and his family have had the opportunity to see many different areas of the state and are happy to call Boerne and the hill country home.  

Episode 72: Brennan Whitaker, head football coach and athletic director for De Leon ISD finishes out our series on summer strength and conditioning programs.

Brennan Whitaker, head football coach and athletic director for the De Leon athletic program, has returned to small town football.  Maybe not his hometown, but back to his small town football roots.  After spending several years in the bright lights of Southlake Carrol and Birdville he took over the Bearcat program and brought the big school philosophy with him.  Implementing everything he learned from his years playing college ball and coaching in the metroplex, he has adapted those philosophies to fit 2A football.  This produced good results with a 9-4 record in his debut season.  Having year one under his belt, he has high expectations for the years to come!

Episode 71: Brandon Schmidt, head football coach and athletic coordinator A&M Consolidated, talks Tiger football in our 3rd episode of the summer strength and conditioning series.

Brandon Schmidt, head football coach and athletic coordinator for A&M Consolidated High School, has never known anything different than the field house and the gym.  Growing up in a coaching family, he never thought about doing anything else after his playing days were done.  He was patient and happy in his situations as a coordinator, but once the opportunity presented itself, he never looked back.  With 7 years as the head coach at 6A Prosper, he built an impressive 67-24 record.  In 3 years as the head coach for the Consolidated Tigers, they are 31-8.  But his emphasis is not on winning, it is on his four core values:  Service to others, Honor the team, Belief in the Process, and Expect Excellence.  Coach Schmidt holds his kids accountable to these values and it shows in his program.

Episode 70: head football coach and athletic director for the Wimberley Texans, Wesley Lambert, takes us through our second episode of the summer workout series.

Wesley Lambert , head football coach and athletic director for Wimberley ISD, decided early on that he wanted to sink his roots deep and keep his family in one place, and that is exactly what the Lambert family has done.  Returning to his wife Lacey's hometown, they have been in Wimberley now since 2011.  With both Coach Lamberts leading the program, (Lacey is the girls coordinator) they are planted firmly in the hill country, leading one of the most consistently competitive school districts in the state.   

Episode 69: Head football coach and athletic coordinator for the Abilene High Eagles kicks off our series on summer workouts.

From “the Graveyard” of San Saba (if you know about that, you know your Texas football) to the big time Friday night lights of west Texas 5A football, Mike Fullen has seen it all in his 30 plus years of coaching.  As head football coach and athletic coordinator for the Abilene High Eagles, Coach Fullen knows the demands of running a successful athletic program and the challenges of being in a large district in west Texas, where travel times for district games are similar to vacation road trips for our more densely populated area schools.  His longevity with the district brings a consistency that is one of many reasons for his continued success in a very competitive area of the state.