Shown here with family from left: wife Tobie, daughter Lauren, daughter Audra, son Brian
Episode 56
Pete Hart, former head coach and athletic director for Chico and Alvord
Pete Hart has spent almost 40 years positively influencing young men and women through coaching. One of those young men was me. My classmates and I were fortunate enough to have him arrive in Bridgeport our 8th grade year and follow us through high school. Coach Hart has influenced and inspired many young men and women to go into the education field and many with great success, such as Carl Abseck of Lufkin and Jeff Riordan of Chapel Hill. His passion, not just for the game of football, but for seeing students grow and develop into good people is noticeable to anyone who has spent time with him. Thank you coach Hart, for all you have done for the young people of the north Texas area!
Episode 55
Jason Reynolds, athletic director and head football coach, Natalia ISD
Jason Reynolds is in his second stint with Natalia ISD. His first role in the district was the OC several years back before leaving for the OC job in Wichita Falls. But as soon as one of his mentors vacated the big seat in Natalia, he jumped at the opportunity to return and take over as AD and head football coach. Coach Reynolds and family are in year two back with the Mustangs and he and his staff are working hard to keep a solid foundation built on character and a positive culture.
Shown here with family from left: daughter Jennifer, wife Valarie,and son Joshua
Episode 54
John Penn, Dallas Football Officials Association
John Penn has been officiating for over 30 years and is following in the footsteps of his father, Percy. He has a deep understanding of the game, which allows him to tolerate a lot of the things that go along with officiating at a high level of play. This understanding allows him to see intense situations through eyes of the players and coaches which helps him manage and sometimes de-escalate potentially volatile situations.
Episode 53
Wayne Elliott, Executive Secretary, Austin Football Officials Association
Wayne Elliott has been officiating for 47 years and has called games from the junior high level to the NFL. This kind of endurance as an official requires thick skin and a love of the game. In this episode we get a view of the game from a different vantage point and discuss the challenges faced with the profession and the steps to take if you want to take up the call as an official.
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Episode 52
Jeff Riordan, head football coach and athletic director Chapel Hill Bulldogs
Jeff Riordan, head football coach and athletic director for the Chapel Hill Bulldogs, lives out his motto of Code Blue for his program. With the backing of the district administration all the way to the top, they put character and life before all else, and keeping priorities straight has led to high levels of success for the Chapel Hill program.
Shown here with family from left: son Jonah, wife Mandy and daughter Kendyl
Episode 51
Kody Yeager, head football coach and athletic director, Brackett ISD
As the son of a coach, Kody Yeager spent his share of time traveling through Texas working his way to the top. Now he has returned home to find the paradise he left, unchanged from 20 plus years ago. Same hard working kids, same family atmosphere and the same swimming and fishing spots he enjoyed as a kid are now enjoyed by his own family and kids. We talk about what it was like playing and coaching for his father and how he has put the lessons he learned from him into practice.
