This Week in Texas High School Football: January 17

Realignment The big day is Thursday, February 1 and of course we’ll have full coverage and reaction from what is by far the biggest day of the off-season. The UIL has already released the classification breaks and the enrollments of all member schools and we took the liberty of crafting our own statewide mock realignment for 6A-2A at the link below (note this is for Texas Football Insiders Only): http://www.texasfootball.com/mockrealignment  Katy Taylor tabs Simmons After 18 years as an assistant at Katy Cinco Ranch, Chad Simmons finally gets his chance to be a head coach at Katy Taylor as Katy ISD on Monday night made their decision. Simmons, who has been the defensive coordinator at Cinco Ranch since 2004 takes over a team that advanced to the area playoffs a year ago despite having its coach reassigned in the middle of the season and returns some excellent talent. Clear Creek search winding down It appears Clear Creek will name its next head football coach at next Monday’s board meeting. There were four finalists as two coordinators internal to CCISD and a current head coach in the Houston area are among the them. My sources indicate the leader in the clubhouse is the current head coach and we’ll learn who the new coach is at Monday night’s board meeting. Lopez reassigned at Laredo Alexander In one of the more bizarre stories you’ll see this off-season, we take you down to Laredo. Early last week, the FBI along with multiple local law enforcement agencies raided a home owned by Laredo Alexander head coach Joel Lopez for money laundering and illegal gambling. Lopez himself was not implicated nor arrested, but his wife and mother in law were arrested in connection with the investigation. On Friday, United ISD announced that Coach Lopez would be reassigned to a different role and although they stated the police investigation was not a factor in the reassignment, the timing indicates something different as the optics of the entire investigation don’t look great at the moment. Willis update Athletic Director Eric Ezar advised me on Tuesday that Willis received 150 applicants for their vacant head football coach opening and that field was narrowed down to a dozen candidates who will interview on Friday. That field will be narrowed down a to group of finalists who will have a second interview next week with an eye on presenting a name to the school board in early February. San Antonio Kennedy makes a change Edgewood ISD has long had their struggles on the gridiron and decided to make a change at Kennedy High over the weekend as Michael Inco will not return as the head coach of the Rockets after four seasons and a 6-34 record. As evidenced by the tremendous success at rival Memorial High School, it is possible to do some good things in Edgewood and district administration is hoping that blueprint can be used at Kennedy under new leadership.  Mabank has its man Pending school board approval Mabank has tabbed Howe head coach Zack Hudson as its next head football coach. Hudson spent five years leading Howe and posted a 30-28 overall record, although that record took a hit after last year’s disappointing 1-9 campaign. Hudson, prior to his time at Howe, spent two years at Class 2A Weimar as the HFC/AD. Orange Grove searching On Tuesday afternoon, it was announced the Scotty Pugh would not return for a third season as head football coach and athletic director at Orange Grove. Pugh, who arrived in South Texas in June of 2016 after a stint at Granbury posted a 12-10 record in his two years on the Texas coast. Chris Jones returns to West Texas Texas Tech alum Chris Jones makes the return to West Texas as he informed his team at Giddings he’d be leaving to take over at Pecos. In seven years at Giddings, Jones posted a strong 51-29 record, including an 11-3 mark in 2016 and a 12-1 mark in 2015. Jones, in addition to being a Tech graduate, had a stint as the HFC/AD at Post and his son Kyle is transferring to Texas Tech from Mary Hardin-Baylor to walk on the football team. It’s a real coup for Pecos to land Jones and there’s no doubt Eagles fans are fired up about the hire. A pair of big retirements in the Permian Basin The end of last week saw two mainstays in TXHSFB announce its retirements out west after having quite a bit of success. Mickey Owens, a mainstay in Monahans, on Thursday afternoon announced he’d be retiring effective at the end of the 2018 school year. Owens, who spent 13 years leading the Loboes, compiled an impressive 121-41 record with an overall head coaching record of 173-69. Owens will remain with the district in an AD role until his replacement is named. He leaves the program in tremendous hands and look for this one to be one of the more highly coveted small school jobs in the state. If you head southeast of Monahans along I-10, you’ll run into the tiny town of Iraan, which has produced some stellar seasons recently under the guidance of head coach Mark Kirchhoff. Kirchhoff on Monday announced his retirement after 22 incredibly successful seasons at Falls City from 1996-2012 and from 2012-2017 at Iraan. Kirchhoff posted an impressive 62-15 record at Iraan, including a run to the 2016 state championship game. Prior to his time in Iraan, he built a Falls City program that from 1980-1995 had made just two playoff appearances, into a power in South Texas. Kirchhoff led Falls City to a state title in 2010. From 2013-2016, Kirchhoff’s Iraan squads had an impressive 49-4 record. He retires with a very impressive 223-91 overall record as a head coach. Palacios and Muleshoe closing in Things are progressing in the coaching searches at both of these 3A programs as Muleshoe looks to be down to five finalists for the vacancy and a decision could come down this week. Palacios held its first round of interviews and 12 initial candidates were brought in and that group will be cut to a group of 2-4 finalists who will brought in for a final round of interviews later this week. Dimmitt names Manous Pampa offensive line coach Aaron Manous was named the head football coach/athletic director at Dimmitt on Monday afternoon. It will be Manous’ first head coaching gig as he replaces Steve Gunter who retired after suffering a stroke earlier in the fall. Monte Alto’s revolving door continues It’s definitely been a struggle for one of the Rio Grande Valley’s smallest 11-man programs as 3A Division II Monte Alto is once again looking for a head football coach as Amos Salas won’t return for a second season. The 2018 season will mark the fourth head coach in four years for the Blue Devils and in just seven years of varsity football, they’ve had five difference head coaches. Coaching clinics With the off-season starting that means it’s also clinic season throughout the state of Texas, here’s a listing of clinics from around the state, if we don’t have you clinic listed e-mail it to us at matt.stepp@texasfootball.com January 19-20: Piney Woods Clinic, Hilton Garden Inn, Longview http://pineywoodsfootballclinic.com/ January 19-20: Alamo City Coaches Clinic, El Tropicano Hotel, San Antonio http://www.alamocitycoachesclinic.com/ January 19-21: City of Palms Clinic, Doubletree Hotel, McAllen January 26-28: DFW Coaches Clinic, Embassy Suites, Grapevine https://www.coachesclinic.net/ January 27: Texan Drive Coaches Clinic, New Caney HS, New Caney February 9-11: Lone Star Coaching Clinic, Hilton Conference Center, College Station www.lonestarclinic.com February 15-17: Nike Coach of the Year Clinic, Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK https://www.nikecoyfootball.com/clinics/view/45/dallas-red-river February 16-17: Hill Country Football Clinic, Admiral Nimitz Museum, Fredericksburg http://www.hcfc-blc.com February 16: Four States Clinic, Texas High School, Texarkana May 5-6: Best Little Clinic in Texas, Wingate Hotel and Conference Center, Round Rock http://www.hcfc-blc.com June 12-14: Angelo Coaches Clinic, San Angelo http://www.angelofootballclinic.com/index.html July 22-25: 2018 THSCA Convention & Coaching School, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio http://www.thsca.com/convention