The success of former high school coaches at the collegiate level has opened the door for many current high school coaches to make the jump.
No region has seen as many opportunities afforded to it than Texas – specifically the Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex, which just added its fifth move made this off-season.
The latest coach to have climbed up the professional ranks was Emmett Jones, formerly of South Oak Cliff, to the Texas Tech staff. Jones announced the decision on Friday that he would be taking the job after just three seasons as a head coach at SOC. He lead the Bears to a 30-8 record, including a berth in the Class 5A regional semifinals last season.
It has become a cycle the feeds itself.
The list could grow as Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire now has three offers on the table to make a jump – including one this past week from University of Texas coach Charlie Strong.
Morris took to the airwaves in speaking on the Bruce Feldman podcast, saying that high school coaches understand relationships much more than coaches who go from playing, to a GA position, and climb the ranks without every actually leading a program.
“Because, as a high school coach, you get it,” he said. “Several things I always had to do as a high school coach. No. 1, I always had to recruit. I had to recruit kids from going straight to basketball. I had to recruit kids from going straight to baseball, or getting into AAU activities. I’m constantly trying to recruit kids to my program.
“I had to get up in the morning and go down to the transportation department and sit there with the bus maintenance people and drink a cup of coffee with them and let them know their job was just as important as my job. I need the best bus on a Friday night to haul kids across the state. Because if not, I’m stuck on old bus 33 that might make it and might not make it. They may get me in bus number one if they know Coach Morris cares about them and can bring them a hat or something else.
“Not only that, but I’ve got to get to the cafeteria and eat lunch with the faculty, because the faculty have to understand I’m here for the best benefit of the student-athlete. Faculty members have to know Coach Morris cares about what goes on in Miss Sally’s English class and know that if (a kid) acts up, not only is Miss Sally going to get him, but football is going to take care of him. Now she feels important, she’s got ownership. Then I’ve got to get with the custodians. They’ve got to feel important. I’ve got to make you feel you’re just a part of this success on this field as I am as a football coach. If I can get you to feel like you’re important, because you are, you’re going to give me everything you’ve got.
“That’s whereyou see Gus (Malzahn), Hugh (Freeze), Art (Briles), and David (Beaty). Everybody’s important. It’s about relationships. That’s what this whole thing’s about. It amazes me, coaching five years in college, people come and say, ‘I love your system, your scheme.’ I say, ‘I’ll talk all the ball you want to talk. You’re losing the point. It’s more than that. That kid’ll be successful running the wishbone if he believes in you. If he doesn’t believe in you, you can put him in shotgun all you want, but I’m telling you it’s about relationships.’”
| COACH | HIGH SCHOOL | COLLEGE |
| Claude Mathis | DeSoto | SMU |
| Emmett Jones | South Oak Cliff | Texas Tech |
| Mark Smith | L.D. Bell | SMU |
| Joseph Gillespie | Stephenville | University of Tulsa |
| Corby Meekins | Spring Westfield | University of Houston |
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