Value of Assistant Coaches

[IndianFan]

With all the talk of Larry Neumann leaving Nederland, an interesting topic comes to mind.

Like corporate management, head coaches are often credited with the success of a program despite the fact that excellent associates, or assistant coaches in the case of football, are the driving force of a successful program.

Former Port Neches-Groves head coach Doug Ethridge is considered to be the most successful coach in PN-G history . Given the outstanding success of his teams of the 70's, that reputation is deserved. But a closer look reveals some interesting points. The Indian staff of 74-77 included some outstanding assistants that proved to be very talented.

Greg Davis - current offensive coordinator at Texas.
Bruce Bush - went on to become one of the top 20 head coaches in Texas high school football history.
Tim Nunez - coached at university level for many seasons including Texas.

After these coaches departed, the Indian's under Ethridge saw less success. Any thoughts on this subject?

 

[1989NDN]

Excellent point IndianFan ... assistant coaches make or break a program. Doug Ethridge at PN-G during the 1970s, Ronnie Thompson at TJ during the early 1980s, Dan Hooks at WO-S during the 1980s, 1990s, and still today, and, Curtis Barbay at Newton during the 1980s-Present ... they all validate your point. All of those programs had, or still have, tremendous assistant coaches. It's no surprise that Larry Neumann has kept D. Spell around all of these years at Nederland ... who can imagine Dan Hooks without Cornell Thompson? MB had a super right-hand man in Mike Long. Look what those 2 were able to do with PN-G when a good group of athletes rolled through the system (1997-1999). To be successful in TX HS football, you must have good athletes and an above average coaching staff. Those 2 ingredients make for a fun ride in the playoffs. Without 1 of the 2, then success will be hit or miss.

During the 1990s, Art Briles had great assistants at Stephenville, Alan Waddell (sp?) had great assistants at LaMarque, and Mike Johnson at Katy had an excellent staff. You could go on and on. But, they all share 1 thing --- great coaches from top to bottom. The results = state championships.

Go Indians. Peace.

 

[pngfan93]

I'm thinking the same thing as 1989NDN. Mike Long and Ken Cummings are sorely missed from the coaching roster.

Another coach comes to mind since I know some of his family -- Al Rabb. Compare his coaching staff in the early to mid 90s to what he had at the end. I realize he was also getting players from the Pear back then, but I suspect that there were massive assistant coaching differences also. By the way, Rabb is an OC (I think) under Mike Long at Kelly now.

 

[Penny]

Al Rabb is a top notch individual!

 

[IndianFan]

Was wondering if Coach Nunez was still coaching and found this...

http://www.o-lineiscool.com/aboutCoach.asp

 

[IndianFan]

And Coach Bush...

Bush, Hollingshead land jobs

Former San Marcos football coach Bruce Bush, the 28th winningest coach in Texas football history entering the 2007 season, has been hired at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo North in the Rio Grande Valley. It's his third coaching stop in that area; he previously coached at Donna and PSJA High. Also, former Temple coach Tam Hollingshead, who was at Rockwall-Heath last season, has resigned to become the director of high school football relations at SMU.

Locally, only one football coaching vacancy — Ellison — remains unfilled. Lake Travis recently hired Chad Morris from Stephenville, Bastrop hired Plano East offensive coordinator Gerald Perry and Thrall promoted Gary Schultz, a Tigers assistant last season.

http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/highschool/02/22/0222prepleftrail.html

 

[IndianFan]

Then there's the guy that Bob West hates... ;D

http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/pages/staff/davis_bio.html