IndianFan
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February 17, 2014
Popular PN-G assistant named AD/HC at Crandall
By Gabriel Pruett
The News Sports Writer
PORT NECHES — Joe Dale Cary was Brandon Faircloth’s first hire when he became the head chief at Port Neches-Groves High School. It was an agreement the two friends made years ago in college.
Faircloth was busy playing baseball at Sam Houston State in Huntsville while Cary had just transferred from Texas Tech to Texas A&M. The pact was made and the agreement came true.
Today is Cary’s day to shine, as the former Aggies baseball player was named by Crandall ISD as the new athletic director/head football coach at Crandall High School Monday night. Cary leaves PN-G as the team’s former offensive line coach and assistant offensive coordinator.
“This has been one of the hardest decisions because this experience has been awesome,” Cary said. “Port Neches-Groves has been awesome, not only to me but to my family. It has been hard to tell people bye. The one thing I remembered, though, was when an opportunity like this is presented you have to take advantage of it. It is because of PN-G I have this opportunity.”
Faircloth said even though the entire PN-G community is losing a great coach and man, his Indians staff and team are excited for Cary. The coaching duo first met at a Christian youth camp in Missouri and then stayed close when playing college baseball only about an hour away from each other’s campus.
“This is what you want when you are a head coach,” Faircloth added. “You want your assistants to find jobs and be successful. That is what our first dream is, to be head coaches. He will be missed because he has been a huge part of what we do each year. I cannot blame Crandall for stealing him away.”
Crandall’s Pirates went 5-6 this past football season and reached the area round of the playoffs. They were taken out, 38-14, by Tyler Chapel Hill, after defeating Paris in the first round, 22-7.
The playoff win was the first in a decade for Crandall who is set to lose 23 players to graduation this May, including a starting quarterback and running back.
“Crandall next year will be Class 4A Division 1,” Cary said. “There are about 900 kids in the school and it is about 25 miles Southeast of Dallas. It is a real neat community and is a bedroom community. It is a lot like a Bridge City or Port Neches.”
The Pirates will play in District 8-4A Division 1 next year, along with Athens, Kaufman, Mabank, Van and Willis Point. Kaufman also went two rounds deep, while Athens and Van, the district champs who entered the playoffs with a 10-0 record, were taken out in the first round.
“I knew the coach over there through Coach Faircloth,” Cary said. “That was my connection. I was really able to hit it off with the superintendent and principal. I want to create a family atmosphere over there. The Pirates have several key players back.”
Cary has proven to be a coach who spends time communicating with those in the community. He is on Twitter, @CoachJDCary, and makes himself available to all members of the media and fans.
“I think it is great when coaches have relationships with the media,” Cary added. “It creates relationships but being greedy, it promotes your program.”
http://www.panews.com/sports/x1783676551/Popular-PN-G-assistant-named-AD-HC-at-Crandall
Popular PN-G assistant named AD/HC at Crandall
By Gabriel Pruett
The News Sports Writer
PORT NECHES — Joe Dale Cary was Brandon Faircloth’s first hire when he became the head chief at Port Neches-Groves High School. It was an agreement the two friends made years ago in college.
Faircloth was busy playing baseball at Sam Houston State in Huntsville while Cary had just transferred from Texas Tech to Texas A&M. The pact was made and the agreement came true.
Today is Cary’s day to shine, as the former Aggies baseball player was named by Crandall ISD as the new athletic director/head football coach at Crandall High School Monday night. Cary leaves PN-G as the team’s former offensive line coach and assistant offensive coordinator.
“This has been one of the hardest decisions because this experience has been awesome,” Cary said. “Port Neches-Groves has been awesome, not only to me but to my family. It has been hard to tell people bye. The one thing I remembered, though, was when an opportunity like this is presented you have to take advantage of it. It is because of PN-G I have this opportunity.”
Faircloth said even though the entire PN-G community is losing a great coach and man, his Indians staff and team are excited for Cary. The coaching duo first met at a Christian youth camp in Missouri and then stayed close when playing college baseball only about an hour away from each other’s campus.
“This is what you want when you are a head coach,” Faircloth added. “You want your assistants to find jobs and be successful. That is what our first dream is, to be head coaches. He will be missed because he has been a huge part of what we do each year. I cannot blame Crandall for stealing him away.”
Crandall’s Pirates went 5-6 this past football season and reached the area round of the playoffs. They were taken out, 38-14, by Tyler Chapel Hill, after defeating Paris in the first round, 22-7.
The playoff win was the first in a decade for Crandall who is set to lose 23 players to graduation this May, including a starting quarterback and running back.
“Crandall next year will be Class 4A Division 1,” Cary said. “There are about 900 kids in the school and it is about 25 miles Southeast of Dallas. It is a real neat community and is a bedroom community. It is a lot like a Bridge City or Port Neches.”
The Pirates will play in District 8-4A Division 1 next year, along with Athens, Kaufman, Mabank, Van and Willis Point. Kaufman also went two rounds deep, while Athens and Van, the district champs who entered the playoffs with a 10-0 record, were taken out in the first round.
“I knew the coach over there through Coach Faircloth,” Cary said. “That was my connection. I was really able to hit it off with the superintendent and principal. I want to create a family atmosphere over there. The Pirates have several key players back.”
Cary has proven to be a coach who spends time communicating with those in the community. He is on Twitter, @CoachJDCary, and makes himself available to all members of the media and fans.
“I think it is great when coaches have relationships with the media,” Cary added. “It creates relationships but being greedy, it promotes your program.”
http://www.panews.com/sports/x1783676551/Popular-PN-G-assistant-named-AD-HC-at-Crandall
