BigNutBuck

All West Brook has to do is win 2 district games in one of the weakest districts in 5A. They will easily do that. They will finish no worse than 5-5, probably 6-4 and be satisfied because they made it. In any other 5A district it would be a chore for them.

"Without his sons he has had little success." Wrong. Look at his career record at Waller. Any success he has had with or without his sons is much much better than 3 of the 4 people left on the list. But then again, you would not to be able to turn Phillips into a "puppet" like someone with no experience.

The money is way off? Not what I was told by a very good source! I'm not sure you know how much. If it was a decent salary they would have more interest besides mediorce coordinators. Wildcatter, how well do you think you can get to know someone on the phone? Is that how you operate. Instead of getting the best guy in for a one-on-one and looking him in the eye, you settle for a phone conversation and find reasons not to interview him. Look at the pool you are left with now. Take Huckaby out and you have no experience from three guys who have had little coordinating success in their past. Good call. I don't understand how you think Phillips wanted to be outta Greenville and didn't care about Orangefield. How did your telephone interviews go with the rest of them? Could you hear the sincerity in their voices? How do you know if they are "for real" or just pulling your leg. You don't, and thats what makes not interviewing Phillips more stupid. I'm sure if Bridge City comes open in a few years and they offer $7 or 8,000 more in salary you expect a Bridge City boy to stay at Orangefield, what about the LCM boys. Please. I was expecting more this time around, but it is the same ole penny pinching, power/political struggle, as the last 30 years with a "yes" man and hiring the 6th or 7th best person for the job. If Huckaby pulls his name or doesn't get the job it will be the same ole BS than with Morrison, Wallace, Foreman, Theriot, and so on. Afraid of hiring someone qualified, who is proven and do whats right for the program and not the "community". Surely Orangefield's dismal past hasn't had anything to do with hiring inexperienced people and the wrong person time after time, would it?

I guess they will determine a head coach by a last man standing contest the way they are dropping like flies. Long and Faust were my two favorites since they wouldn't consider Phillips, who was the most qualified candidate. Long and Faust must have thought the $63,000 they are gonna pay was a little too pathetic considering the trouble they will be facing next year. Either that or they knew they would go for someone else. What I find funny is that they will interview Bolton, Dubois, and Rankin and not Phillips. I also think it is funny that you say he wants out of Greenville and not "interested" in Orangefield. A coach of his caliber and they look for reasons not to bring him in for a interview. Experience, seasoned winner, kids coach, and a solid leader, and thats not good enough for the Field, so bring in a rookie that "knows the area." Too funny! I saw this one coming, and if Huckaby don't get the job it will be same song, different verse. Pass up someone who is proven for a rookie that will appease the school board and sup. By the way, I know Bolton. I like him and think he's a good guy, but about the 5th or 6th choice on this list unless you use Orangefield logic.

Who has he worked for that is good? Who did he work for at Orangefield? I'm sure it was a great one like Moody. The bottom line is they need someone that is proven. What has Bolton done? They don't need to play Russian roulette with every hire to see who will turn out good? BBallcoach, tell me where I missed the boat? Come on! The should have at least interviewed Phillips but instead were scared off for some reason. Probably his personality. For years and years they hire someone with no experience who will serve as a "yes" man, and someone who they can pay their poor salary too. Probably why Long left. In hiring a coach that has no head coach experience what would you look for? Would you not look at who they have worked and learned under? I hope so. If you do that would probably disqualify Bolton!!!!!!!!

Great post BBallgod! You are right about Paul Pewitt, they have great athletes. They have one in the NFL and the year they went to state they had a kid who was the Offensive and Defensive POY for the state. One of the best high schoolers I have ever seen. He won't have that luxery at Orangefield. I'm not sure what was said in the Phillips/Welch phone conversation but the guy has the best resume of anyone. He was at Waller for 18 yrs. so its not like he moves around a lot. I've heard he's the type of guy that does things his way, he's a big guy with a strong personality, and he won't back down from pressure. Maybe that has something to do with it too. I would like to see them get someone with experience, but if they pass on that, I hope they get someone like Faust who has been in larger schools, worked for some very good coaches and has some good ideas. If a guy has never been a head coach I would look at who he has worked for in the past, thats a good indicator of how he might operate. Faust has worked for some really good guys at a higher level, and guys like Bolton have worked for Theriot, Moody and the likes.

I'm sure the job is Huckaby's as long as he wants it. It unfortunate that Long withdrew his name, I thought he was the best candidate esp. since they never considered Jim Phillips, which is a complete joke. Its amazing they never even considered Phillips. Look at the other 3 or 4 interviewing and tell me why in the world they would pass over Phillips to get someone with no experience? I don't know anything about the guy from Marlin, but if Huckaby don't get the job hopefully they will give it to Faust!!!!

1981 Orangefield team. Went 9-2 with both losses coming against Newton and Anthony Byerly. Newton lost to Cameron Yoe in the Quarterfinals or Semifinals on penetrations.

Unfortunately that will never happen. He has too strong of a personality and will. At this point I just hope that they hire the right guy. Someone who has experience, but more importanyly someone who is a kids coach that will get the most out of the kids. Orangefield has too long of a history of hiring inexperienced guys that are puppets men to the admin, and a history of poor pay, unwilling to pay for a quality coach. They are afraid of a strong personality, someone who is gonna do things their way not the communities way. Rumor has it that they won't even interview Jim Phillips, the most accomplished applicant they have recieved in a long time, someone who is a proven winner with lots of experience at predomimently white schools and a kids coach. At the same time he is also everything that the school is afraid of like I mentioned before. There are still some good candidates like Long, Huckaby, and Faust. I just hope they don't screw this up!!!!!!!!!!!

Long runs the spread and is pretty 50-50 run/pass. Huckaby got his offense from Bruce Bush while he was at San Marcos. Its a wing-T type offense. Double tight with a wing back. Its more like what Buna runs though, you will not see a bunch of Newton or Kirbyville's wing-T version in this offense. It has lots of misdirection and lots of quick hitting traps. Go to youtube and see if you can find a San Marcos or Paul Pewitt highlight film if they have one.

I hope your right. I would like to see Long! The guy has a good offensive mind, much like Huckaby, but there styles couldn't be any more different. Stelly had a good point in that whoever gets the job will have to hit the ground sprinting, because he's gonna have a lot on his plate to do in a short period of time.

No one covers high school sports better than Stelly. He usually has some good insight and inside information and I hope he's right about some of the leaders. I too like Bolton, but I don't see him as one of the better candidates. Just because he "knows the area well" shouldn't make him one of the favorites. There are some other really good coordinators out there like Faust and Peveto that should be mentioned up there instead of Rankin or Bolton.

My choice would be Long, Huckaby, or Phillips. All 3 have head coaching/AD experience and all 3 have been successsful. For those knocking Long as a head coach are fools. PNG has been down offensively since he left and Kelly has beaten schools they have lost to in the past. They beat Sulpher, LA. a few years back when they were ranked in the top 10 in the whole state of LA. There are some other good coaches on the list with coordinator experience that would be good choices also. I just hope they are willing to pay for a top notch coach, and don't lose someone because they are too tight with the money.

I see your point Hitman, and I agree to a point. The main problem Orangefield is facing right now is the timing of the whole thing. I'm sure there are a lot of coaches who are afraid of taking the job in July with nearly a full staff to hire. They also don't have a lot of time to implement their philosophies and get acquinted with everything. Orangefield is a great school district and has great kids. Always have. One thing they need to do is pay more. If they pay someone on par with what most of the other HC/AD's make they will get a good guy. Orangefield has SOME good athletes. They are not loaded, but they can win with what they have if they can get all of them out to play. There is no reason why Orangefield can't finish 3rd in this district on a yearly basis. They should settle for no less. Behind WOS and Silsbee, who else is great. They have the athletes to win, not neccessarily win big, but go to the playoffs and play for a week or two, every year.

Huckaby has a lot of HC experience and has proven to be a winner. I believe he applied once before a few years back and didn't get it, maybe its his turn now. I was also wondering who the other apps. are? I was wondering if the guy from Hardin has put in his name? He has done some good things over there and has real explosive offenses. The guys he has over are no better athletes than what Orangefield has. Hopefully who ever they get will be able to turn the corner. He has his work cut out, but I don't think he will find any harder working group of kids than what Orangefield has.