Newton Coach W.T. Johnson Headed To Kirbyville

[Guest EagleFan01]

Rumor has it Newton Defensive Cordinator W.T. Johnston has taking a defensive assistant job at Kirbyville.

[KFDM COOP]

Yes!!

[WTB]

an asst job? that guy is suppose to be one of the better DC's in the area

[Wildcat4life]

an asst job? that guy is suppose to be one of the better DC's in the area

  If this rumor is true, then its a big plus for my Wildcats!

[KFDM COOP]

Then it will be a big plus!!!

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

is this the same person from the state title club?

[ChampionEagles]

This is the same person. He has been at Newton many years and actually was there in '98 for the 3A state championship and in both of the appearances in the 2000's in 2A. One we lost and one we won. I've heard he has some issues with other coaches on the Newton staff and was ready for a change. Newton will struggle on defense without him and Kirbyville should get better at whatever he coaches over there. He and Alverez go back to college days in Arkansas.

[Lefty99]

This is the same person. He has been at Newton many years and actually was there in '98 for the 3A state championship and in both of the appearances in the 2000's in 2A. One we lost and one we won. I've heard he has some issues with other coaches on the Newton staff and was ready for a change. Newton will struggle on defense without him and Kirbyville should get better at whatever he coaches over there. He and Alverez go back to college days in Arkansas.

That means alot if the rumor is true.  Like the old saying goes, "It's not what you know, but who you know"....

[Roughrider]

This is the same person. He has been at Newton many years and actually was there in '98 for the 3A state championship and in both of the appearances in the 2000's in 2A. One we lost and one we won. I've heard he has some issues with other coaches on the Newton staff and was ready for a change. Newton will struggle on defense without him and Kirbyville should get better at whatever he coaches over there. He and Alverez go back to college days in Arkansas.

The good news for Newton is that Barbay is not leaving. Besides, if he has been there that long then his assistants have learned alot from him and someone will step up.

[ChampionEagles]

This is the same person. He has been at Newton many years and actually was there in '98 for the 3A state championship and in both of the appearances in the 2000's in 2A. One we lost and one we won. I've heard he has some issues with other coaches on the Newton staff and was ready for a change. Newton will struggle on defense without him and Kirbyville should get better at whatever he coaches over there. He and Alverez go back to college days in Arkansas.

The good news for Newton is that Barbay is not leaving. Besides, if he has been there that long then his assistants have learned alot from him and someone will step up.

You cannot lose that much experience and continuity in a program without a let down, no matter whom "steps up". W.T has made all the defensive calls for years. Barbay is still there, but on the offensive side of the ball. He has never been a big influence on the defensive side. Kirbyville's program just got a big boost.

[DP#1FAN]

I have a feeling he will be missed but Newton will go on with there winning ways.

[NOTWENS]

cant beleive this stuff.  when barbay leaves in a couple of years i guess i dont know whats going to happen, since  most logical replacement is goin  :-[

[Guest EagleFan01]

When Barbay leaves in a few years Johnston I believe will come back and get that job....

[NOTWENS]

who  is  going  2  call defensive  plays

[NOTWENS]

i beleive he want be back.  all his kids are grown now right.  think he is positioning himself to leave the area, to tell the truth.  he has  accomplished a lot in newton.  he  had total control of the defensive  side of the ball.  he was dam good coordinator. hard to see this guy  go anywhere let alone kirbyville our  rival,but the time  and effort he put in newton makes me wish him well in all he does.  God speed dude

[ChampionEagles]

I believe his wife is going to remain as a Newton ISD employee. I've heard they are not selling their house or moving. W.T. left Newton one time before for a few years, then returned. I wish him well, except when K'ville plays Newton. I think Hatton is in line to call defenses, and IMO we will struggle.

[NOTWENS]

if we keep the same scheme we should be  ok.  ok not great. i think the offense will be off the chain  though

[ChampionEagles]

But, as we all know defenses win championships. I have doubts based on personal experience. Schemes still have to be called by recognizing what the offense is doing. In it's simplest form football can be a chess game between coordinators.

[Guest EagleFan01]

We will be just fine here in Newton don't anyone worry about that.... If Hatton takes over calling the plays he will do just fine he has been there along time and is a very good defensive coach knows the system very well and will pick up where Johnston left off. I still think he will be back in a few seasons when Barbay retires and he will take over the program. All in all Newton will be just fine so don't you worry about that Eagle fan's.

[ChampionEagles]

IMO Newton will have a tough time defensively. Being there a long time and knowing the system still don't make a great coordinator. Having a feeling for when to aggresively go after offenses and getting the team in position to do that counts heavily. Keeping offenses guessing wrong as to what your defense is going to do counts heavily. I think we will be very weak in those two areas. I hope I'm wrong.

[Guest EagleFan01]

You will be wrong.

[ChampionEagles]

If the defense enjoys the same success as the boys baseball program under the same leadership, we will be in for a long year.

[Guest EagleFan01]

The boys baseball program has nothing to do with the football team at all. The head baseball coach has nothing to do with the eagle defense. Hatton will be fine if indeed he is the one who takes over play calling on the defensive side of the ball.

[ChampionEagles]

Leadership is leadership.

[2011realtalk]

This is the same person. He has been at Newton many years and actually was there in '98 for the 3A state championship and in both of the appearances in the 2000's in 2A. One we lost and one we won. I've heard he has some issues with other coaches on the Newton staff and was ready for a change. Newton will struggle on defense without him and Kirbyville should get better at whatever he coaches over there. He and Alverez go back to college days in Arkansas.

That means alot if the rumor is true.  Like the old saying goes, "It's not what you know, but who you know"....

another old sayin i think is running through coach johnsons head is ''if you cant beat em join em'' thats why he is coming to kville